It is well known that stress among psychology graduate students can negatively impact academic performance, clinical skills, and personal well-being. However, less is known about factors related to stress management among psychology graduate students. The current study examined self-care practices and perceived stress among psychology graduate students Four hundred eighty-eight psychology graduate students from across the United States completed an anonymous survey of self-care practices and stress. Multiple regression analyses indicated that sleep hygiene, social support, emotion regulation, and acceptance within a mindfulness framework were significantly related to perceived stress. Results suggest that educating students about self-care practices can be an integral part of helping students manage stress associated with clinical training.

Stress has been defined as the perception that the demands of an external situation are beyond one's perceived ability to cope (Lazarus, 1966). DeAngelis (2002) suggests that psychologists are particularly vulnerable to stress and that, while they promote self-care practice and stress management with clients, psychologists rarely heed their own advice. Psychology graduate students are also vulnerable to stress because of the multiple demands of graduate school including academic coursework, research, clinical training, and financial constraints. Stress related to performance anxiety, competition, institutional demands, lack of experience, and interpersonal/professional relationships has been noted in this population (Badali & Habra, 2003). Furthermore, psychology graduate students represent a unique population who must navigate these stressors and their new roles, while simultaneously developing the knowledge and skills necessary to provide clinical and therapeutic services to others.

Professionals involved in the training of psychology graduate students, both in educational and clinical settings (e.g., practicum and internship), need to understand the role of stress among students to provide guidance on effective stress management and self-care. Professionals will be...