Factors associated with stress among students attending High School in the Mmabatho Region

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to explore factors associated with stress among students from three high schools in grades eleven and twelve, in the Mafikeng area. A survey design was conducted in which questionnaires were the primary source of data collection. The sample consisted of 120 students (40 from each school) who were randomly selected from the class register. However there was a balance for gender, thus equal number of males and females were chosen from both grades eleven and twelve from each school. Generally learners at the three schools showed a low level of anxiety, strain and stress as their level of coping was high. The results indicated that there was a negative correlation for satisfaction with life and the student's mood profile as well as their strain response indicating that a correlation of - 0.195 and - 0.207 respectively existed. Findings also indicated that students who have high coping skills (56%) also have a high satisfaction with life. It was also clear from the findings that 73% of students have high coping skills when cross tabulated with their strain response and a profile of their moods, in comparison with 27% of students with low coping skills. Overall the study elicited that students who had the ability to cope with stress through various mechanisms had low strain and positive mood profile.