| Learning Objective #1: the learner will be able to determine the prevalence of stress among school-going adolescents | |||
| Learning Objective #2: the learners will be able to identify the factors associated with stress among school-going adolescents |
A cross sectional study was conducted on 800 school-going adolescents of 10 to 16 years, residents of Nawabshah city, chosen from 18 secondary schools of Nawabshah city. Simple random sampling was employed and face to face interviews were performed, using a structured questionnaire, to assess stress and various risk factors e.g. gender, prior information about pubertal body changes, type of school, number of siblings, age of mother, parental quarrel and number of rooms. Multiple linear regression analysis was done to identify the factors associated with stress.
The prevalence of stress was found to be 30% in this study. The prevalence of stress was higher in adolescents studying in private schools as compared to government schools (adjusted Beta = 0.956, 95% CI: 0.501,1.412). With every one number increase in sibling, the mean estimated stress score increased (adjusted Beta = 0.120, 95% CI: 0.026, 0.215). Adolescents whom parents quarrel were more likely to have stress compared to adolescents whom parents do not quarrel (adjusted Beta = 0.158, 95% CI: 0.057, 0.259). There was decreased level of stress among female adolescents who had prior information about pubertal body changes (adjusted Beta = -1.101 (95% CI: -2.008,-0.194). Among male adolescents who had prior discussion about puberty the mean estimated stress score was 0.493 (95% CI: -2.008, 1.212) showing no effect of prior information about puberty on stress.
This study found a high prevalence of stress and showed that number of siblings, number of rooms, type of school, mother's age, and parental quarrel are significantly associated with stress level among adolescents.