STRESS AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN RELATION TO THEIR GENDER AND REGION OF RESIDENCE

Scholarly Research Journal for Humanity Science & English Language , Online ISSN 2348-3083, SJ IMPACT FACTOR 2016 = 4.44, www.srjis.com UGC Approved Sr. No.48612, OCT- NOV 2017, VOL- 4/24 https://doi.org/10.21922/srjhsel.v4i24.10409

STRESS AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN RELATION TO THEIR GENDER AND REGION OF RESIDENCE Kamal Upreti Research scholar, S. S. J. Campus Almora, Kumaun University, Nainital

Stress among adolescents is a topic of concern for educationalist and psychologist. Adolescents feel stress due to various factors including home and school environment. The present study was conducted to find out the stress felt by adolescents of different gender and region of residence.

Objectives: The main objective of the study is to find out whether there is any significant difference between the adolescents of different gender, and region of residence with respect to stress.

Hypotheses: 1.There is no significant difference between adolescent boys and girls with respect to stress 2.There is significant mean difference between rural and urban adolescents with respect to stress. Sample: Sample of the present study consist 100 students from different schools of Almora district. Tools: Dr. Zaki Akhatar’s STUDENT STRESS SCALE SSS-AZ was used for data collection.

Result: Results shows that there is no significant difference in stress experienced by adolescent boys and girls. Rural adolescent are also not significantly different with urban adolescents in experiencing stress.

Scholarly Research Journal's is licensed Based on a work at www.srjis.com Introduction: World scenario is changing very fast. This is the time of globalisation when whole world is available in one click. Intense use of technology has made life easier and shortens the distance but on the other side of coin, expectation level and demands of human beings are accelerating in same way. Every person is busy in fulfilling these demands. Failure of coping with demands and high aspiration leads to stress specially in adolescents. Adolescence is a critical phase of human life when he/she transits from puberty to maturity. Physically, psychologically, physiologically and sociologically changes occur in this period. Adolescents especially girl adolescents are enforced by the society to behave in a particular manner and follow the norms established by the society. The socio-economic status, personal factor, school and home environment affect their growth and development and they struggle to establish their own identity. During these transactions when their demands exceed the personal and social resources they feel stress. Stress is defined as a state of psychological arousal that results when external demands tax or exceed a person’s adaptive abilities (Lazarus,1966). Stress affects the mind; body and behaviour in many ways and everyone

Copyright © 2017, Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies

Kamal Upreti (Pg. 6630-6633)

6631

experience stress differently (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). The psychological symptoms of stress are: decrease in concentration, moodiness, irritation, short tempered, poor judgment, agitation, inability to relax, increase negativity, feeling overwhelmed, anxious or racing thoughts, sense of loneliness and isolation, constant worrying, and depression. The interpersonal skills of adolescents need to communicate across ethnic; gender and religious boundaries are changing. Experience of unresolved feeling of inferiority produce identity crisis in adolescents that disrupt their self (Erickson, 1968).Negative formation of identity make their transition difficult and critical and they feel stress. Present study examines the stress experiences by adolescents of different gender and region of residence.

Review of LiteratureBartwal and Raj (2014) found no significant gender differences with regard to stress among rural and urban adolescents. Mathew and Jayan (2006) observed boys and the girls of the age group of 15-17 years were not significantly different with respect to their Academic stress. Huan, et.al (2005) found the role of optimism together with gender, on students’ perception of academic stress. Four hundred and thirty secondary school students from Singapore participated in this study and data were collected using two self-report measures: the Life Orientation Test and the Academic Expectations Stress Inventory.

Results showed Gender was not a significant predictor of academic stress . Singh and Upadhyay (2008) investigated academic stress in the context of age and sex differences among college students. They found female students had more stress in comparison of their male counterpart. Naresh Kumar (2008) conducted a study on sources of academic stress and their influence on the scholastic achievement; he found that – (i) the urban students were significantly different on stress in compare to rural students. Urban student were found significantly higher in their level of stress as compared to the rural area students.

Methodology This section gives an account of the objectives, hypothesis, research sample and the research tool that were used for data collection.

Statement of the problem ‘Stress among Adolescents in relation to their gender and region of residence’.

Objectives 1. To study whether there is significant difference between adolescent boys and girls with regard to stress.

Copyright © 2017, Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies

Kamal Upreti (Pg. 6630-6633)

6632

2. To find out whether there is significant difference between rural and urban adolescents with regard to stress.

Hypotheses: 1.There is no significant difference between adolescent boys and girls with respect to stress.

2. There is no significant difference between rural and urban adolescents with respect to stress.

Data Collection: The sample of study comprised a group of 100 adolescents selected from 4 government schools of Almora district. Dr. Zaki Akhatar’s STUDENT STRESS SCALE SSS-AZ was used for data collection. To analyze the data, mean S.D and t-test were used by the investigator.

Analysis and interpretation of data Hypothesis 1.

Table-1 Comparison of stress among adolescents on bsis of Gender.

Gender Girls

N 44

Mean 165.59

S.D 14.397

Boys

56

161.05

22.114

‘t’value 1.178

D.f.

98

P value .242

Table-1 reveals that t-value is 1.178 that is not significant at .o5 level of significance. Based on the average score of stress the adolescent girl having slightly higher stress than adolescent boys but difference is not significant at 5%level. Hence it agrees to the given hypothesis that there is no significant difference between adolescent boys and girls with respect to stress.

Hypothesis 2.

Table-2 Comparison of stress among adolescents on basis of region of residence.

Cast N

Mean

S.D

‘t’value

D.f.

Rural

30

165.83

18.636

.951

98

Urban

70

161.86

19.379

P value .344

Table-2 reveals that t-value is .951 that is not significant at .o5 level of significance. Based on the average score of stress the rural adolescent having slightly higher stress than urban adolescents but difference is not significant at 5%level. Hence it agrees to the given hypothesis that there is no significant difference between rural and urban adolescents with respect to stress.

Copyright © 2017, Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies

Kamal Upreti (Pg. 6630-6633)

6633

Conclusion: Above study concludes that there is no significant difference between adolescent boys and girls with regard to stress. However adolescent girls were found to be under more stress. In case of rural and urban adolescents it was found that there is no significant difference between rural and urban adolescents with regard to stress. Rural adolescents were found to be under more stress. So efforts should be made to help them to cope up with the stressors. If the level of stress reduces, the mental fitness among adolescents will increase. The findings of the present study have important implications for awakening parents, teachers and society towards the aspect of stress especially in girls and rural adolescents. Parents and society should provide a healthy environment to adolescents. Equal opportunity should be given to both boys and girls. Teachers can play an important role in reducing stress. They should motivate and prepare adolescents to face the challenges of upcoming life. They should help them in achieving the aim of life. Parents and teachers should ensure that adolescents should not feel overloaded with work as it may increase the stress.

References: Bartwal, R. S. & Raj, A. (2014). Academic stress among school going adolescents in relation to their social intelligence. Indian Streams Research Journal, 4(2), 1-6.

Erikson, E. (1968), Identity: Youth and crisis. New York: Norton.

Folkman, S., & Lazarus, R. S. (1986). Stress processes and depressive symptomatology. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 95, 107-113. doi: 002I-843X/86/ Huan, V.S, Yeo, L.S, Ang, R.P, & Chong, W.H.(2005).The influence of dispositional optimism and gender on adolescents perceptions’ perception of academic stress. Adolescence, 41,533-546.

Lazarus, R.S.(1966),Psychological Stress and the Coping Process, Mathew, B &Jayan, C. (2006). Academic stress and coping styles among plus-two students. Indian Psychol. Rev., 66(1): 41-48 Naresh Kumar, G. (2008). Need to boost Primary Pupil Scholastic Achievement – A Strategy of Education for all. Indian Educational Review, Vol.38 (1) pp.115=121 Singh A. & Upadhyay A. (2008). Age and sex differences in academic stress among college students. Social Science International, 24(1), 78-88.

Copyright © 2017, Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies