Assessing academic stress among primary school going tweens: an Indian cross-sectional study

AbstractPurposeThis survey-based study investigates academic stress in relation to somatic symptoms, psychiatric association, demographic and family profile in school going students aged 8 –10 years.Design/methodology/approachA well-tested questionnaire was floated among 576 tweens. Critical information about academic stress and its psychiatric association was evaluated. Academic stress was seen at 1.5 levels when recorded in an interval of 1 to 3.FindingsStress symptoms and psychiatric symptoms robustly caused academic stress. Father ’s education level vis-à-vis mother’s education level addressed academic stress prominently. Further, this rare piece of work uncovered the fact that the tweens from low-income families experienced higher academic stress. Grades from previous examinations and previous failures in subjects were inversely related to academic stress. Academic stress is an ignominious termite hollowing the progress ladder of our younger generation as early as primary school children.OriginalityThis paper tried to measure academic stress and regress its relation with other related factors quantitatively, which is rarely seen in the case of tweens.Practical implicationsSuch survey-based research can further provide vital information to child psychiatrists, pediatricians, and concerned government authorities to effectively draft the required welfare schemes and policies, specifically in developing nations such as India.
Source: Journal of Public Health - Category: Health Management Source Type: research