The relationship of academic stress and depressive symptoms in adolescents
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30989/mik.v15i2.2132Keywords:
academic stress, adolescent, depressionAbstract
Background: Depression in adolescents is an increasingly concerning global mental health issue. Academic stress arising from pressure to achieve, social demands, and parental expectations is a major risk factor.
Objective: To determine the relationship between academic stress and depressive symptoms in adolescents at SMA Negeri 8 Yogyakarta.
Methods: This quantitative, cross-sectional study involved 274 students from grades X, XI, and XII, selected by systematic sampling, with inclusion criteria of SMA Negeri 8 students aged 15–18 years whose roll numbers were multiples of 3, and exclusion criteria of students who did not complete the questionnaire. Academic stress was measured using the Perceived Academic Stress Scale (PASS), and depressive symptoms were measured using the Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale (KADS-6). Data were analyzed using the Spearman-rank test.
Results: Most respondents experienced moderate academic stress (52.9%), and 36.5% showed a likelihood of depression. Spearman Rank analysis showed a significant relationship between academic stress and depression (r = 0.308; p = 0.000).
Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between academic stress and depressive symptoms in adolescents at SMA Negeri 8 Yogyakarta, with a low positive correlation. Higher academic stress is associated with a greater likelihood of depression.
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