LEVELS AND SOURCES OF STRESS AMONG GRADE 10

STUDENTS

Introduction:
Stress is a normal part of life. It can come from any situation or thought that
makes you feel frustrated, angry or anxious. Low level of stress can be good. Stress
can motivate you and help you become more productive. However, too much
stress can be harmful. High levels of stress may have negative effect on cognitive
functioning and learning of students. This can affect student’s grades, health and
personal adjustment.

Students in Grade 10 level belong to the adolescent stage. This is a

transition stage between childhood and adulthood. The stage is characterized by
rapid physical and mental changes. According to Abolarin( 2010),adolescence
stage is define as a time when individuals begin to function independently of their
parents. It is generally viewed as a critical period of development (Kai-wen, 2010).
Behavioral scientists have often referred to adolescence as a period of “storm and
stress”. Students at this level often experience incompatibility of their mental
development with their physical changes or with social environment and thus,
suffer from problems arising from inadequate adaptation (Scafer, 2009). These
problems might may further cause psychological troubles or induce deviant
behaviors.
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY:

Stress among higher education is increasing day by day. According to

Hughes (1996) stressors that might possibly affect academic performance of
students are financial pressure, good grades, completing projects and
requirements on time. In addition, consequences of stress can be devastating for
some individuals.

For most students the most significant source of stress is examination.

Others have loads of responsibilities at home and priorities to adhere in
maintaining the role of being a student. There have been studies (Altmaier, 1893)
which have reported strong relationship between stress and Grade 10 students.
Stress has been associated with the major life events, daily life hassles and
changes in life. It is created by excessive environmental and internal demands that
need constant effort and adjustment.

`Kaiwen (2010) in his study on stress sources among college students in Taiwan
identified the following sources:

 School Factor: Some of the situation in the school that could cause stress
for students include: too much homework, preparation for test or
examination, unsatisfactory academic performance and lack of interest in
subject matter.
 Family factor: The family can also be a source of stress. Some families
place a great deal of stress on students by telling them that they need to
acquire good grades. In addition, families with constant conflict are
characterized by lack of parent- child communication.
  Relationship factor: Many student are preoccupied with the development of
relationship with opposite sex.
 Physical and Mental Factor: Setting high goals, being a perfectionist and
comparing self with others and self-degradation may cause all stress and
result to depression.

However this study was designed to find out the level and sources of stress
among Grade 10 students of San Pedro College Basic Education Department
with particular attention on the following sources of stress: interpersonal,
intra-personal, academic and environmental.

This study is to look into the level of stress and the sources of stress of
Grade 10 students.

Research Questions:

1) What is the level of stress among Grade 10 students?

2) What are the sources of stress among Grade 10 students?

Hypothesis:

1) There is a significant difference in the level and sources of stress among

Grade 10 students
2) There is no significant difference in the level and sources of stress among
Grade 10 students.

METHODOLOGY:
 This study is a descriptive survey research which involve levels and sources
of stress among Grade 10 students in San Pedro College Basic education
department.

The population compromised all Grade 10 students from sections .

There are a total of respondents. The instrument for data collection will be a
self-developed questionnaire entitled, “LEVEL AND SOURCES OF STRESS AMONG
GRADE 10 STUDENTS”. The questionnaire is made up of 20 questions designed to
determine the level and sources of stress among Grade 10 students. The
questionnaire requires the respondents to respond to the item using a Five Point
Rating Scale of: Never (0), Rarely (1), Sometimes (2), Often (3) and Very often (4).

The data on research questions will be analyzed using frequency count and
percentages after interpreting the scores on the basis of the following range: 0-15
= Good control over stress: 16-30 Low level of stress, 31-45= Medium level of
stress and 46- 60 = High level of stress. Mean and standard deviation will be used
to analyzed data on research question two, it will be used to score the instrument
for the purpose of hypothesis testing. The T-test will be used to test the two
hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance.

Table 1: Percentage analysis of stress level among Grade 10

students
 Range Level of N Percentage

stress (%)
0-15
16-30
31-45
46-60

Sample Questionnaire

ITEMS
A
Interpersonal
1 Change in social activities
2 Classmate conflict

3 Fight with boyfriend/ girlfriend

4 New boyfriend / girlfriend
5 Trouble with parents
B inter-personal
6 Financial difficulties
7 Speaking In public
8 Outstanding personal achievement
9 Minor violation of school rules
10 Change in religious belief
C – Academic
11 Increased class work load
12 Lower grade than anticipated
13 Missed to many lessons
14 Anticipation of examination
15 Serious argument with teachers
D- Environmental
16 Placed in unfamiliar situation
17 Dirty living condition
18 Change in living environment
19 Separation of parents
20 Waiting in long line