Level of stress perception and its predictors among school going Bengali late adolescents in a rural block of Eastern India

Abstract

Background: As adolescents are in transit from childhood to adulthood, they are vulnerable to stress and related complications. Measuring stress and its influencing factors is a prerequisite for developing strategy for this age-group. Objective of the study was to assess the level of perceived stress among school going late adolescents and to find out its predictors.Methods: This cross-sectional analytical epidemiological study was conducted among the school going Bengali late adolescents (15-17 years) of a rural block of West Bengal, India within July 2017 to December 2017. Finally, 102 students of class IX and XI were selected via two stage simple random sampling method. Data were collected by interview using pre-designed, pre-tested, semi structured questionnaire including 10 points Cohen’s perceived stress scale (PSS-10). Independent ‘t’ test, ANOVA, Mann Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis H test were utilized to establish the association between independent variables and PSS score. Independent variables found to be associated (p≤0.05) were considered in multiple linear regression to identify the predictors of stress.Results: Mean perceived stress score of participants were 16.8±3.7 (mean±2 SD) out of 40 (highest PSS score) with minimum and maximum score 8 and 26, respectively. In multiple linear regression, de-motivating comment, sibling pattern and love affair were found as predictors of stress perception among Bengali late adolescents. These factors collectively explained 15.6% variations of PSS score and individually contributed 3.8%, 5.6% and 6.2%, respectively.Conclusions: Stress can be alleviated by arranging motivational programme, counselling, and life skill education.