Law Student Stress: Relationships Between Academic Demands, Social Isolation, Career Pressure, Study/Life Imbalance and Adjustment Outcomes in Law Students

Although Australian law students report elevated distress compared with community norms and other student groups, few studies have examined the relationships between perceived stress in law school and adjustment in law students. A total of 647 Australian law students completed the purpose-built Law Student Perceived Stress Scale (LSPSS). Analyses indicated that the LSPSS was psychometrically sound and measured four dimensions of law school stress: academic demands, social isolation, career pressure and study/life imbalance. Regression analyses on a subsample (n = 481) indicated that higher scores on each dimension were related to higher depression and anxiety symptoms. Social isolation was related to reduced life satisfaction and psychological well-being across all dimensions. Further analysis indicated that the majority of law students reported Moderate to Extremely Severe symptoms of depression (53%) and anxiety (54%). Practice implications, including the need to promote social connectedness in law schools, are discussed.