A Comparative Study of Stress among Undergraduates of Law in Public and Private Universities in the Colombo District

Abstract

This study explores factors affecting stress among law undergraduates in public and private universities in the Colombo District, Sri Lanka, focusing on the University of Colombo (public) and the Royal Institute of Colombo (private). Data were collected using a questionnaire that included the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), with 21 statements, and the Undergraduate Sources of Stress Questionnaire, adapted by the researcher. From an equal allocation sample size of 260, 252 respondents participated, with 130 from the public entity and 122 from the private entity, using stratified sampling. Descriptive analysis revealed significant socioeconomic and academic differences between the two groups, while Structural Equation Modeling with Partial Least Squares analysis identified personal factors as the strongest contributors to stress. Academic pressures were significant for private university students, while public university students experienced higher overall stress levels. These findings underscore the need for tailored mediation in universities, with a focus on personal well-being support in public institutions and academic support in private ones.