Academic Stress among Adolescents of Rural Nepal: A Community-based Cross-Sectional Study

  • Suman Pant Nepal Health Research Council, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Bibek Rajbhandari Department of Emergency Medicine and General Practice, Nepal Police Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Minani Gurung One Health Research and Training Center, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Lisasha Poudel One Health Research and Training Center, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Ashmita Maharjan One Health Research and Training Center, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Sujita Nepal One Health Research and Training Center, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Tek Bahadur Thapa Department of Community Programs, Dhulikhel Hospital-Kathmandu University Hospital, Nepal
  • Nabina Malla School of Public Health, Chitwan Medical College, Chitwan, Nepal
  • Tashi Lama Department of General Practice,Patan Academy of Health Science,Lalitpur, Nepal
  • Dikshya Sharma One Health Research and Training Center, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Chandani Gurung Department of Psychiatry, Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Yubraj Parajuli Oda Foundation Nepal, Mahawai Rural Municipality, Kalikot
  • Niranjan Panta Department of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Population, Kathmandu, Nepal
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33314/jnhrc.v21i1.4629

Abstract

Background: Adolescents are in the transition phase between childhood and adulthood. Their mental health influences many aspects in their life as they go through many physical and emotional changes. Adolescent mental health is harmed by changes in emotional and physical state, as well as increased academic pressure. This study aimed to assess academic stress and its associated factors among adolescents in rural Nepal.
Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 424 adolescents residing in Karnali Province, Nepal. Academic stress was measured using Student Assessing Academic Stress. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine associated factors at the significance level of 0.05.
Results: Of the total students, 19.8% had moderate academic stress and 2.4% of them had high academic stress. Female students had thrice higher odds of having academic stress as compared to male students (Adjusted Odds Ratio:3.47; 95% Confidence Interval:1.91to 6.31, p-value:<0.001). Grade 10 students had higher odds of having academic stress as compared to grade 9 (Adjusted Odds Ratio:2.02; 95% Confidence Interval:1.13 to 3.61, p-value:0.017). Students of literate mothers were more likely to experience academic stress than those with illiterate mothers (Adjusted Odds Ratio:0.53; 95% Confidence Interval:0.29 to 0.96, p-value:0.036). Students with unsatisfactory academic performance had thrice higher odds of having academic stress as compared to students with satisfactory academic performance (Adjusted Odds Ratio:3.12; 95% Confidence Interval:1.46 to 6.67, p-value:<0.003).
Conclusions: The findings of the study showed that high school students have academic stress, which is related to many factors at home and school. Understanding academic stress and parents and teachers providing the best support to the students could help lessen the burden.
Keywords: Academic stress; adolescents; Nepal; prevalence

Published
2023-09-10
How to Cite
PantS., RajbhandariB., GurungM., PoudelL., MaharjanA., NepalS., ThapaT. B., MallaN., LamaT., SharmaD., GurungC., ParajuliY., & PantaN. (2023). Academic Stress among Adolescents of Rural Nepal: A Community-based Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Nepal Health Research Council, 21(1), 136-144. https://doi.org/10.33314/jnhrc.v21i1.4629
Issue
Vol. 21 No. 1 (2023): Issue 58 Jan-March, 2023
Section
Original Article

Copyright (c) 2023 Suman Pant, Bibek Rajbhandari, Minani Gurung, Lisasha Poudel, Ashmita Maharjan, Sujita Nepal, Tek Bahadur Thapa, Nabina Malla, Tashi Lama, Dikshya Sharma, Chandani Gurung, Yubraj Parajuli, Niranjan Panta

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