Occupational Balance, Time Management and Stress in Double Major Students

This study aims to examine the relationship between occupational balance, time management, and perceived stress in university students enrolled in a double major program. Participants will be included if they voluntarily agree to participate, are undergraduate students, are actively enrolled in a double major program for at least one semester, have Turkish reading and comprehension skills, are between 18 and 30 years old, and have no history of psychiatric diagnosis. Students with inactive enrollment in a double major program, enrolled in associate-level double major programs, or who provide incomplete or incorrect questionnaire responses will be excluded from the study to ensure data quality and reliability.

A total of 150 participants will be recruited from various universities in Turkey. The sample size was determined using G*Power 3.1 software, considering an effect size of 0.3, a statistical power of 95% (1-β), and a significance level of 0.05, which resulted in a minimum required sample of 134 participants. To account for possible withdrawals, missing data, or incomplete responses, the total number of participants was increased to 150. Participants will be selected based on voluntary agreement and accessibility, and the snowball sampling method will be employed to reach students across multiple universities. Initial participants will refer other students who meet the inclusion criteria, helping to access a wider sample that accurately represents the population of double major students.

Data collection will be conducted online using Google Forms, which allows participants to complete questionnaires conveniently and ensures secure, anonymous submission of responses. Prior to participation, all students will receive detailed information regarding the purpose, procedures, and voluntary nature of the study. They will then provide informed consent electronically through a dedicated online form. Completion of all questionnaires is expected to take approximately 10-15 minutes per participant. Data will be stored in a secure manner, with all personal identifiers removed to maintain confidentiality, and will be used exclusively for research purposes. Only aggregated, anonymized data will be analyzed and reported, ensuring participants' privacy and compliance with ethical standards.

The study will utilize several validated instruments to collect data. The Socio-demographic Information Form collects detailed participant characteristics, including age, gender, university, major and double major program details, enrollment status, class level, program duration, weekly study and free time, employment status, housing situation, academic achievement perception, and history of psychiatric or neurological conditions. The Perceived Stress Scale (T-PSS-10) is a 10-item questionnaire measuring the degree to which individuals perceive situations in their lives as stressful. Each item is scored on a five-point Likert scale ranging from "never" to "very often," with four items reverse scored. Total scores range from 0-40, with 0-13 indicating low perceived stress, 14-26 indicating moderate stress, and 27-40 indicating high perceived stress. The Time Management Questionnaire (TMQ) consists of 27 items rated on a five-point Likert scale from "never" to "always," and evaluates students' ability to organize, plan, and effectively allocate their time. Higher scores indicate stronger time management skills, supporting more effective academic performance. The Occupational Balance Questionnaire-11 (OBQ11-T) includes 11 items scored on a four-point Likert scale (0-3), measuring the alignment and satisfaction of participants' daily activities and roles. Total scores range from 0 to 33, with higher scores indicating better occupational balance and more effective management of daily responsibilities. All instruments have been validated and demonstrated reliable results for Turkish university students, ensuring that the data collected accurately reflects the constructs being studied.

By concentrating specifically on students enrolled in double major programs, this study seeks to provide a thorough and comprehensive understanding of how occupational balance, time management, and perceived stress interrelate. The study will capture not only individual variations in these constructs but also how they collectively influence students' experiences and daily functioning. The detailed assessment of socio-demographic characteristics, combined with validated psychometric tools, ensures that the study findings will offer valuable insights into patterns of stress, time allocation, and engagement in meaningful activities among this student population. These insights will contribute to a better understanding of academic stress, occupational balance, and effective time management strategies in higher education contexts, highlighting areas where interventions or support mechanisms may be beneficial for students managing multiple academic programs.