Virtually Stress Free: Keeping Online Graduate Management Students Healthy From Afar

Abstract

This article examines stress experienced by graduate management students in an online learning environment. I use qualitative methodology to examine data collected from 32 students in 2 sections of a graduate online course. Findings identify 6 categories of stressors experienced by the students as well as 6 categories of stress relief agents. Instructor pedagogy is identified as the most important factor for reducing student stress. Recommendations address both stressors and stress relief agents and include actions that instructors can take to reduce stress in an online classroom.

Keywords:

• stress
• health
• graduate school
• management education
• online learning/learners