From Stress To Success: Stream- Wise Analysis Of Academic Stress & Performance In Adolescents

In the tumultuous journey of adolescent, the weight of academic stress often casts a looming shadow, shaping not only students' mental well-being but also their academic trajectories. Amidst the pressures of exams, competition, and societal expectations, understanding the intricate dance between academic stress and performance becomes paramount. Previous studies have hinted at the influence of various demographic and educational factors on these dynamics, from stream selection to family background. Objectives: The objective of the study was to investigate stress levels among students and their potential impact on academic performance. Sample: 186 school going adolescents out of which 92 were boys and 94 were girls from district Bhiwani, Haryana. Tools: Socio Demographic datasheet was used to collect the relevant socio demographic information followed by Academic Stress Scale (Rajendran & Kaliappan 1990) and Academic Performance Scale (Christopher McGregory, 2015) Design: Descriptive statistics, The dataset was analysed in terms of its frequency and percentage distribution but also through statistical measures such as skewness and kurtosis, One Way ANOVA test was applied. Data collected was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS-29 version). Result: Significant gender difference was found; girls showed higher academic stress and academic performance than Boys. The findings further suggested that indicated heightened stress levels among medical and private school students, as evidenced by in stream selection and school type. These findings were discussed with regard to their implications for the structure and dynamics of the self. Key words: Academic Stress and Performance, Gender, Adolescents, Streams