EAP 5 ASSIGNMENT COVER SHEET

Name: …………..…Nguyễn Trương Bảo Ngọc……................ I.D. 22003024

Class: EAP5-0922GP-7
Assignment: (please circle) Res. Report Lit. Review Res. Essay

Assignment Question: (write out in full)

…….. Is there any difference in stress levels between highly disciplined people and
those with low self-discipline?.............................................................................
Due date: 08/10/2022. Date submitted: 07/10/2022

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Student’s Signature: Date: 07/10/2022.

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Nguyễn Trương Bảo Ngọc – EAP5-0922GP-7

 Table of Contents

ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................................................... 4

INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 5

METHODOLOGY............................................................................................................................... 7

RESULTS ............................................................................................................................................ 8

DISCUSSION .................................................................................................................................... 12

REFERENCES................................................................................................................................... 14

APPENDIX ........................................................................................................................................ 15

Nguyễn Trương Bảo Ngọc – EAP5-0922GP-7

 RESEARCH ON THE DISTINCTIONS

OF STRESS LEVEL BETWEEN

INDIVIDUALS WITH HIGH AND LOW DEGREE OF

SELF-DISCIPLINE

Nguyễn Trương Bảo Ngọc – EAP5-0922GP-7

 ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to examine the accuracy of our hypothesis that persons with higher levels

of self-discipline experience different amounts of stress than those with lower levels. Additionally, it

presented the causes of leading to over self-control and demonstrated how to deal with that stress.

The method utilized in this research was a questionnaire (Google Form). The survey form was

completed by 330 surveyors of various ages and schools. Three levels of stress and pressure were

identified by exerting too much self-discipline: low, average, and high. Surprisingly, the overall result

indicated that many responders faced significant amounts of pressure and strain. Also, the majority

of participants identified study and employment as the most problematic stressors. Nonetheless, it is

advocated that future studies be undertaken on a larger number of respondents and structured to

incorporate specific information in a variety of forms.

Nguyễn Trương Bảo Ngọc – EAP5-0922GP-7

 INTRODUCTION

According to an article in Psychological Science, self-discipline is a superior indicator of academic

achievement than IQ. People who have self-control can maintain their concentration on their

ambitions. It makes it possible for individuals to retain self-discipline and control over how they adapt

to any circumstance. Low self-esteem may be caused by a lack of self-control. Self-disciplined

adolescents outperformed their more impulsive peers in every aspect of academic success, including

attendance, entrance to prestigious schools, standardized test scores, and report card marks. However,

people who have excessive self-discipline can be under pressure, and become too strict with

themselves. Furthermore, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and obsessive-compulsive

personality disorder (OCPD) can make it difficult for these people to perform everyday activities like

eating, drinking, or reading.

There are psychological factors other than low self-esteem that lead to some people's extreme self-

criticism. It is more likely a consequence of people's intense need for affect, which is the basis for all

human emotion. Positive disintegration is frequently associated with a higher level of over-

excitability, which is another way of saying that people who thoroughly develop themselves

constantly feel as though they are in a crisis, whereas other people would not perceive those

conditions as dire or in need of a similar response. Oliver Burkeman (2016) indicated a lack of self-

control is impulsive and more likely to take harmful risks, but having too much self-control is also

bad. The study by Wit and Werf (2015) showed that increased emotional reactivity in OCD may

result from a weakness in emotion regulation brought on by a breakdown or failure in the effort to

establish cognitive control. Marney A. White, Ph.D., MS, Psychology (2021) had a medical review

that concluded that taking life too seriously would cause an ambiguous perception of what deserves

time and effort. Despite the large number of studies that have been conducted to date, more

Nguyễn Trương Bảo Ngọc – EAP5-0922GP-7

investigation needs to be clearly done on the consequences of excessive self-discipline and the

adverse effects of putting too much pressure on our mental health.

This research was to compare the amount of stress experienced by those with high and low levels of

self-discipline Moreover, the study aimed to increase our understanding of too much self-control can

be a bad thing and how to take life more easily.

Nguyễn Trương Bảo Ngọc – EAP5-0922GP-7

 METHODOLOGY

The research was carried out on 20th September 2022 in Ho Chi Minh City. This recorded 330

responses (consisting of 198 females and 132 males). The survey had respondents ranging in age, but

the majority were between the ages of 14 and 18 (students from a multitude of high schools and

universities).

A form questionnaire functioned as the survey tool in this investigation. There were 14 questions in

all. The answers to the first two questions revealed details about the respondents' personal lives. The

following six questions gained data on the advantages and disadvantages of being self-disciplined.

The answers to the other three questions helped researchers better understand stress levels by applying

excessive self-control and the root of this matter. The last two inquiries obtained information on how

to alleviate and cope with that stress.

The Google Form link was then shared on social media and distributed widely online. The

questionnaire was completed by each individual in 3 to 4 minutes. In the case that respondents had

trouble replying, the research team was on hand to offer assistance. Moreover, this form was

accessible for everyone from 23rd September 2022 to 3rd October 2022

In the end, 8 questions in the survey were selected after the data were summed up to provide the most

crucial and pertinent results to our research questions. Afterward, the answers to these questions' data

were transformed into percentages and shown in various graphic formats for analysis. Ultimately, the

responses we received from these contributors provided valuable insights into our unanswered study

topic and came close to corresponding with our hypothesis.

Nguyễn Trương Bảo Ngọc – EAP5-0922GP-7

 RESULTS

Figure 1: The percentages of respondents' views on whether or not self-discipline has a positive
or negative impact on their life.

The bar chart demonstrates the percentages of people's opinions on the effects of self-discipline on

their lives as being beneficial or detrimental.

Overall, the rate of participants believing that self-control brings benefits increases with its impacts,

while most of them think self-discipline prompts few disadvantages rather than none or many.

According to the graph, 3% of the participants assumed that self-disciplinary methods are not

beneficial. However, the percentage of people maintaining that self-discipline provides few and many

benefits to them is much higher, 47% and 50% correspondingly.

On the flip side, the rates of participants with opinions that self-discipline does little harm to their

lives are the highest at 58.2%. The other two ends of the spectrum witness the numbers being scattered

relatively evenly, with only a higher 9.1% for the percentages of people believing self-control does

much damage to their lives.

Nguyễn Trương Bảo Ngọc – EAP5-0922GP-7

Figure 2: Stress levels

The graph illustrates stress levels comes from self-control in various age groups, based on a survey

conducted on 330 people. Overall, nearly half of respondents said they had experienced high levels

of stress due to self-discipline.

The bar graph shows that around one-fifth of survey respondents (20,9%) believe they have

experienced high levels of stress, whereas the number of respondents who reported severe levels of

stress is two times greater. Also, 31.8% of people attending the survey claim that their level of stress

is normal.

Nguyễn Trương Bảo Ngọc – EAP5-0922GP-7

Figure 3: Relevant stress factors that affect a self-controlled person in long-term

The bar chart illustrates the proportion of stressful factors that many people are facing these days.

Overall, the main reason for strain is related to study and work activities. On the other hand, other

factors only accounted for a small percentage.

As can be seen, stressors such as study/job-related factors and a competitive environment accounted

for the highest proportions, respectively 73,6% and 60%. Issues from relationships (family, friends)

and judgments or expectations of validation from other people had the same figure for causing

pressure. Some said that the reason came from themselves (40%), while a small part told that their

love relationship was also the cause (10%). There was only 1% of other reasons that were not

mentioned in the survey.

Nguyễn Trương Bảo Ngọc – EAP5-0922GP-7

Figure 4: Solutions related to ease the stress of self-discipline people

The bar graph illustrates methods to reduce self-control in individuals' stress. Most individuals often

rely on themselves to deal with stress, accounting for 70% of respondents choosing this way as their

first response to stress, as they tend to consider stress as a personal problem. In addition, people also

share their stressors with those closest to them, such as family or friends, in order to find relief, with

68,2% of respondents picking friends as a stress reliever and 51,6% of respondents preferring family.

Comparatively to other categories, just 4,5% of people disclose their stress-related disorders to their

partners or lovers. Since 27% of respondents said that having a pet helps them feel better and deal

with stress, pets and other animals are a suitable choice for stress-free therapy. Finally, only 1,8% of

the respondents discovered that leisure activities may successfully reduce stress.

Nguyễn Trương Bảo Ngọc – EAP5-0922GP-7

 DISCUSSION

The aim of this research was to examine the level of stress of those with high and low degrees of self-

discipline. In addition, the study sought to further awareness of how taking life too seriously might

be detrimental. It was theorized that people experience substantial pressure and strain, with education

and job being the most harmful stressors.

The results completely back up the notion. Based on the findings, the majority of respondents—nearly

half—said that their self-control resulted in significant levels of stress. Besides that, study and work

stresses and a competitive workplace accounted for the largest proportions of stressors, at 73,6% and

60%, respectively.

It may be possible that the constant demands of modern life have a greater impact on people's anxiety

levels. These maladaptive overcontrol habits are the consequence of a confluence of hardwired,

genetic, temperamental, and family/environmental variables, which reinforce these coping

mechanisms. Although having excessive discipline may have some adaptive aspects, it, regrettably,

often comes at a hefty price, especially in terms of relationships and a person's feeling of connection.

Especially, the behaviours that define over self-control tend to obstruct the development of deep

community relations, and as a result, overcontrolled individuals frequently experience intense

feelings of loneliness. Notwithstanding spending a lot of time with people, they frequently leave such

interactions feeling disengaged, undervalued, lonely, and worn out. Due to the fact that they tend to

be conscientious, quiet individuals, those who are overly regulated always seem to go unnoticed and

suffer in silence. The most common issues they face are long-term depression, anorexia, or an

obsessive-compulsive personality.

Nguyễn Trương Bảo Ngọc – EAP5-0922GP-7

The rational explanation for the second finding is that society forces humans to strive for perfection.

First and foremost, grades are not the only benchmark parents are concerned with because they no

longer guarantee a bright future for children or even their "place" in the classroom. In this day and

age, students must be proficient in many languages, exhibit dynamism, and self-control while

learning, keep up with new technologies, and even sing, dance, and participate in sports at a high

level. Secondly, people may experience job-related stress as a reaction to demands or pressure at work

that doesn't align with their knowledge, skills, or capacity for problem-solving. Many workplace

circumstances result in stress, particularly when workers feel they have almost no support from

managers and co-workers and even less influence over how their jobs are being done.

Nguyễn Trương Bảo Ngọc – EAP5-0922GP-7

 REFERENCES

1. De Wit, S. J., Van Der Werf, Y. D., Mataix-Cols, D., Trujillo et al. (2015). Emotion regulation

before and after transcranial magnetic stimulation in obsessive compulsive disorder.

Psychological Medicine, 45(14), 3059-3073.

2. Sperduti, M., Martinelli, P., Kalenzaga, S., Devauchelle et al. (2013). Don’t be Too Strict with

Yourself! Rigid Negative Self-Representation in Healthy Subjects Mimics the Neurocognitive

Profile of Depression for Autobiographical Memory. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00041

3. Löve, Jesper, et al. “‘Pushing Oneself Too Hard’: Performance-Based Self-Esteem as a Predictor

of Sickness Presenteeism Among Young Adult Women and Men—A Cohort Study.” Journal of

Occupational and Environmental Medicine, vol. 52, no. 6, 2010, pp. 603–09. JSTOR,

http://www.jstor.org/stable/45009635. Accessed 6 Oct. 2022.

4. Kohn, A. (2008). Why self-discipline is overrated. Phi Delta Kappan, 90, 168-176.

5. Jack Block, Personality as an Affect-Processing System: Toward an Integrative Theory

(Mahway, NJ: Erlbaum, 2002), pp. 195, 8-9. Or, as a different psychologist puts it, “One person’s

lack of self-control is another person’s impetus for a positive life change” (Laura A. King, “Who

Is Regulating What and Why?”, Psychological Inquiry, vol. 7, 1996, p. 58).

6. Rout, U. R., & Rout, J. K. (2002). Occupational stress. Stress management for primary health

care professionals, 25-39.

7. Goddard, C. (2009). Not taking yourself too seriously in Australian English: Semantic

explications, cultural scripts, corpus evidence.

8. Sparshott, F. E. (2016). Taking life seriously. In Taking Life Seriously. University of Toronto

Press.

Nguyễn Trương Bảo Ngọc – EAP5-0922GP-7

 APPENDIX

1. What is your age?

□ 14-18 □ 19-24 □ 25-30 □ > 30
2. What is your gender?
□ Female □ Male
3. Choose any sentence below that describes you: (You may select more than one option)
□ Create your own rules and plans for yourself.
□ Feel dissatisfied when you make mistake or fail to carry out your goal.
□ Do over one work until the desired results are achieved.
□ Never easily give up, even when having a super difficult task.
□ Be able to control yourself.
□ Possibly create positive energy.
□ Other: _________________
4. Rate your level of self-discipline.
1 2 3 4 5
□ □ □ □ □
Very low Very high
5. Rate how beneficial you believe self-discipline is.
1 2 3
□ □ □
No benefit Many benefits
6. Rate how detrimental you believe self-discipline is.
1 2 3
□ □ □
No detriment Many detriments
7. Which benefits do you receive from being self-disciplined?
□ Sense of accomplishment. □ Assert yourself.
□ Effective work/time management. □ Limit errors at work.
□ Overcome laziness and procrastination. □ Create positive energy.
□ Rarely distracted by external factors. □ Improve self-control.
□ Other: _________________

Nguyễn Trương Bảo Ngọc – EAP5-0922GP-7

 8. What detrimental effects do you experience from being self-disciplined?
□ Feeling exhausted to follow all the rules.
□ Blame yourself when doing something wrong.
□ Stressing when you cannot finish your tasks.
□ Worry about what people think about you.
□ Never feel enough with the result achieved.
□ Feeling at a loss.
□ Frequently have insomnia.
□ Other: _________________
9. To what extent do you feel under pressure by applying self-discipline?
1 2 3 4 5
□ □ □ □ □
Little pressure Too much pressure
10. Rate your level of STRESS because of self-discipline.
1 2 3 4 5
□ □ □ □ □
Very low Very high
11. What causes you to have stress?
□ Study/Work □ Competitive environment
□ Relationships (family, friends, etc) □ Yourself
□ Judgement □ Other: _________________
12. How easy for you to get through that stress?
1 2 3 4 5
□ □ □ □ □
Easy Difficult
13. Which groups do you use to help you to overcome that stress?
□ Family □ Friends
□ Pets □ Yourself
□ Other: _________________

Nguyễn Trương Bảo Ngọc – EAP5-0922GP-7

 14. What activities do you do to lower your stress?
□ Sports (swimming, yoga, boxing, etc)
□ Entertainment (games, cards, television, etc)
□ Self-enjoyment (shopping, travelling, eating, sleeping, etc)
□ Other: _________________

Nguyễn Trương Bảo Ngọc – EAP5-0922GP-7