THE ROLE OF COUNSELING IN MANAGING ACADEMIC STRESS AND IMPROVING COLLEGE STUDENTS WELL-BEING
Putri Khairunnisa1, Khairiyah Khadijah2, Elhafizah Shalsabilla3, Tiara Amelda 4, Anjhani Dwi Utari5, Rista Novila Prasja6, Suci Islami7

University of Riau, Faculty of Education and Educational Sciences, Pekanbaru, Indonesia

Abstract

Academic stress is a common problem experienced by college students due to increasing academic demands, which impact their psychological and physical well-being as well as their academic performance. This study aims to examine the role of counseling services in managing academic stress and its implications for student well-being. The method used was a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) following the PRISMA guidelines to ensure systematic and objective literature selection. The literature search was conducted via Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science, covering publications from 2020 to 2025. Through the identification, screening, and eligibility stages, 15 articles meeting the inclusion criteria were selected. The research findings indicate that: (1) academic stress is influenced by internal factors such as low self-regulation ability and coping skills, as well as external factors such as course load and academic pressure- (2) unmanaged stress impacts anxiety, reduced motivation, sleep disturbances, and decreased well-being- and (3) there is a negative relationship between academic stress and student well-being. Furthermore, counseling services whether individual, group, or based on local wisdom are effective in helping students manage stress adaptively. Thus, counseling plays a crucial role in prevention, intervention, and development efforts to enhance student well-being.

Keywords: Academic stress, student wellbeing, counseling, coping with stress, students

Topic: Student Wellbeing (Mental Health and Student Counselling