Final answer:
It is true that freshmen and first-generation students report higher levels of stress compared to seniors, due to various pressures like college costs, personal challenges, and lacking parental guidance on higher education.
Step-by-step explanation:
Given the context of college students and the stress they experience, it is true that freshmen and first-generation students rate their stress significantly higher than seniors. The pressures of college tuition, burdensome debt, and post-graduation employment uncertainties contribute to their stress levels. Moreover, first-generation students face additional stressors as they try to navigate the college environment without the guidance that might come from parents familiar with higher education. These challenges can compound the stress experienced by these groups.
Statistics support this, indicating that roughly three-quarters of students report experiencing mental health issues at some point, which can be attributed to high stress levels. Further, first-generation students have higher dropout rates compared to their peers, likely due to the higher stress and lack of familial postsecondary education experience.
Stress levels have been on the rise over the years, as shown by national surveys. Both economic factors and personal challenges contribute to this increase in stress, affecting students' emotional well-being and academic success.