Unraveling the Multidimensional Stress Experiences of Commuter University Students: A Phenomenological Study in Surabaya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26740/cjpp.v13n02.p451-460Keywords:
Student stress; Commuter students; Phenomenological study, Mahasiswa komuter, stres mahasiswa, perjalanan komuter, stres lingkungan, strategi coping, kesejahteraan psikologisAbstract
Mahasiswa komuter menghadapi tuntutan perjalanan pulang–pergi yang panjang dan tidak menentu, yang berpotensi menimbulkan kelelahan fisik, tekanan psikologis, serta penurunan performa akademik. Namun, kajian di Indonesia yang mengungkap pengalaman subjektif stres pada mahasiswa komuter masih terbatas. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memahami secara mendalam pengalaman stres mahasiswa komuter di Surabaya, meliputi sumber stres, dampak yang dialami, serta strategi coping yang digunakan. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan desain fenomenologis. Partisipan terdiri dari tiga mahasiswa komuter yang dipilih secara purposive. Data dikumpulkan melalui wawancara mendalam semi-terstruktur dan dianalisis menggunakan teknik analisis interaktif Miles dan Huberman. Analisis menghasilkan enam tema utama, yaitu stressor perjalanan komuter, dampak terhadap kondisi fisik dan akademik, strategi coping, tekanan akademik dan organisasi, dukungan sosial, serta manajemen waktu dan keseimbangan hidup. Perjalanan harian muncul sebagai sumber stres utama yang memicu kelelahan dan menurunkan kesiapan kognitif mahasiswa sebelum aktivitas akademik dimulai. Stres mahasiswa komuter bersifat multidimensional dan terbentuk melalui interaksi antara tuntutan perjalanan, tekanan akademik, serta kapasitas adaptasi individu. Temuan ini menegaskan bahwa commuting merupakan faktor sentral dalam dinamika stres mahasiswa, sehingga diperlukan dukungan institusional dan strategi adaptif yang lebih kontekstual untuk meningkatkan kesejahteraan mahasiswa komuter.
Abstract
Commuter students are exposed to long and unpredictable daily travel, which may lead to physical fatigue, psychological stress, and decreased academic performance. However, in Indonesia, studies exploring the subjective experiences of commuter student stress remain limited. This study aims to explore in depth the stress experiences of commuter students in Surabaya, including sources of stress, perceived impacts, and coping strategies. This study employed a qualitative approach with a phenomenological design. Three commuter students were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews and analyzed using Miles and Huberman’s interactive data analysis technique. The analysis identified six major themes: commuting stressors, impacts on physical and academic conditions, coping strategies, academic and organizational pressure, social support, and time management and life balance. Daily commuting emerged as the primary stressor, contributing to fatigue and reduced cognitive readiness prior to academic activities. Commuter student stress is multidimensional and shaped by the interaction between travel demands, academic pressures, and individual adaptive capacity. These findings highlight commuting as a central factor in student stress dynamics and underscore the need for more context-sensitive institutional support and adaptive strategies to enhance commuter students’ well-being.
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