OBJECTIVETo explore the main sources causing stress among Chinese college students and its distribution.

METHODSA clustered random sampling method was conducted to perform the questionnaire on psychological stress among 2007 students selected from 13 universities.

RESULTSThe main sources of psychological stress on college students regarding learning task, college environment, job-seeking, interpersonal relationship and emotional disorders. 49.3% of the population experienced mild level of psychological stress, 8.4% belonged to critical groups who experienced higher levels of stress,while 0.3% experienced severe level of stress. Sophomores and juniors were under more stressful situation than freshmen and senior students, while female students felt more stressful on learning and job-seeking than males. Male students felt more stressful caused by their families, health status, love affairs, social adaptation and frustration than females. Students from countryside were under more stress than those coming from urbans. Students from ordinary universities felt more stressed than those from famous universities and students from western areas were under more stress than those from the coastal areas.

CONCLUSIONStress had become a severe problem influencing the mental health development among college students. The problem needs to be addressed accordingly.