Vol. 8, Issue 1, Part A (2026)

Aim and Background: This study investigates the variation in reported stress levels among female and male students enrolled in undergraduate programs at the Delhi University. The purpose of the study is to determine and compare stress perceptions in both genders to better understand the psychological impact of academic life across genders. Subjects were 200 undergraduate students, including 100-100 female and males each from various disciplines, were chosen using a random sampling technique. The data was gathered through the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) designed by Levenstein et al. (1993), which assesses individuals’ stress experiences. The gathered information was examined using SPSS software with the help of descriptive statistics and independent sample t-tests.

Results: The average score for perceived stress was greater among female students (M = 0.50) compared to male (M = 0.46), with a t-value of 2.41 and the p-value is 0.017. This demonstrates categorically things female students are going through greater stress compared to those that are male. The higher stress levels reported by female participants in this research could be the consequence of a combination of interconnected factors. These stressors are like balancing academic performance with societal expectations, safety concerns, and emotional labor especially in highly competitive academic environments like Delhi University.