Academic Stress, Psychiatric Morbidity and Coping Strategies of Adolescents

Academic stress, Psychiatric morbidity and coping strategies of adolescents Senthil Nayaki Ramasubbu1, Jaya Mohanraj2 1. Faculty of Psychiatric Nursing, Northern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia.2. Professor, community Health Nursing, Former Dean, SRM college of Nursing, Chennai, India. In recent years, high levels of academic stress among adolescents are raising concern. Academic stress of adolescents has been associated with many mental health problems. This study was aimed to explore the correlation between academic stress, psychiatric morbidity and coping strategies of adolescents. This study used quantitative research approach, descriptive correlation study design. The data was collected by using Goldbergs General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) to assess the psychiatric morbidity, structured questionnaire to assess academic stress of adolescents, coping strategies of adolescents developed by the researcher. The study found positive correlation between academic stress and psychiatric morbidity among adolescents ( r = 0.37), moderate negative correlation between academic stress and coping strategies adopted by adolescents (r=-0.45) and moderate negative correlation between psychiatric morbidity scores and coping scores of adolescents (r=-0.42) The study concluded that efforts to be taken to develop and deliver effective mental health promotion programs for schools and families. Increased attention to be given for provision of professional counseling support for students who are troubled by the serious effects of academic stress.