Perceived stress among university students: Syrian refugees versus Jordanians

Aim: A significant number of Syrian refugees are studying in Jordan’s private universities. Syrian refugees are prone to many health problems, of which stress is one of the most common. Therefore, we aimed to compare the perceived stress between Syrian refugees and Jordanian university students. Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional comparative design was used. The study was conducted among four universities that were chosen by a stratified random sampling method according to each university’s geographical area. A total of 1180 students participated in the study and completed questionnaires, including the Perceived Stress Scale 10-item questionnaire (PSS-10). Results: The PSS-10 revealed moderate levels of overall stress among university students. The mean level of the PSS-10 of Syrian refugees was significantly higher than for Jordanians. We also found significant differences between Syrian refugees and Jordanians in terms of their demographic characteristics, such as age. Conclusion: Syrian refugees who are studying in Jordan’s universities should have access to healthcare facilities and should engage in more programmes to help them control and deal with their stress.