Mental Strain amon University Students

The ability and ability of the individual to deal with the Mental Strain may decrease and the source of the burden becomes dominant, which makes the individual unable to protect himself from high and continuous levels of burden and weaken his resistance, so the need has emerged to study the current research, which aims to: 1- Know the cognitive burden of the research sample. 2- Know the differences in in the cognitive load of the research sample according to (gender, specialization, type of university, type of study). The Mental Strain is "the direct effect caused by the mental stress to which the individual is exposed and this effect depends on the habits that the individual uses in the face of stress." The current research sample included (300) male and female students who were selected by random stratified method from nine colleges at the University of Baghdad and the same in Dijlah National College. To achieve the objectives of the current research, the scale (GHQ 12) has been translated to measure the Mental Strain and after ensuring the sincerity and stability of the tools, they have been applied for the purpose of achieving the objectives of the current research, and a number of statistical means have been used in this research, including: Averages and standard deviation, T-test for one sample, multiple variance analysis, Spearman's correlation coefficient for repeated ranks. The current research has reached the following results: 1-The low level of Mental Strain in general among the research sample, as well as the low level of anxiety, depression and loss of confidence, while there was a rise in the level of social difficulties. 2-There are no statistically significant differences in the Mental Strain in general among the research sample, as well as for its dimensions and for the independent variables in the current research (gender, specialization, type of study)except for the variable of the type of university (private - governmental), the differences were in favor of public universities. In light of the findings of the current research, we put the following recommendations: To the Ministry of Higher Education 1- Preparing cultural, psychological and educational programs in universities to provide students with positive methods in the face of pressure. 2- Providing opportunities to practice recreational activities and hobbies for young people aimed at supporting the low level of Mental Strain among students. In light of the findings of the current research, we develop a set of proposals, including: Conducting a study aimed at identifying other reasons that may cause Mental Strain among students, such as the economic situation of the individual or job security.