Impact of Cortisol and Other Stress Hormones on Academic Performance among Indian College Students in the Post-COVID-19 Era: A Narrative Review

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the mental health landscape and learning conditions of college students worldwide. In India, prolonged lockdowns, online learning, social isolation, health anxieties, and economic uncertainties heightened stress levels among students. Stress triggers neuroendocrine responses, primarily involving hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline, which play a critical role in cognition, memory, attention, and emotional regulation[1,2]. Persistent dysregulation of these stress hormones can adversely affect academic performance[3]. Post-COVID studies link elevated cortisol with poorer concentration, sleep disruption, and lower academic outcomes among college students, highlighting the need for hormone-targeted support[8,27,35]. This narrative review examines Indian and global literature on stress hormones and their impact on academic performance among college students in the post-COVID-19 period, highlighting psychosocial stressors, neurobiological mechanisms, academic implications, and intervention strategies relevant to India[4-8].