Factors Affecting the Academic Stress of Grade 10 Students

Statement of the problem

This research aims to determine the Factors Affecting the Academic Stress of Grade 10

Students in University of -. Specifically, it seeks to answer the following questions:

1. What is the profile of Grade 10 students in terms of:

a. academic stress; and

b. academic motivation?

2. What is the stress level among Grade 10 students in terms of:

a. Work factors;

b. Parental factors;

c. Social factors;

d. Personal factors

3. What is the extent of these factors in affecting the academic stress among

Grade 10 when taken as a whole, or grouped according to:

a. Sex;

b. Academic honor;

Background of the Study (Final)

Grade 10 is the last year of Junior High School, and will undergo moving up to pursue

their senior high school career. However, the Grade 10 students encounter a significant

barrier that is a hindrance to their academic advancement and overall success within

their educational journey. These problems can negatively affect the student's life.

Students will not be able to live their life to the fullest and peacefully with the constant

pressure of family and friends with the student’s academic life. The factors affecting the

students can lead to bigger problems if actions are not done. In the current highly

competitive academic environment, students' performance is largely affected by several

factors, such as social media, academic quality, family and social bonding, etc. (4) As

students advance in education, their workload increases year to year. In a study by

Greene and Azevedo (2017), it was found that a heavy workload leads to a decrease in

students’ intrinsic motivation, which refers to the internal drive to engage in an activity

because it is interesting or enjoyable. Hence, it is important to dig deeper into the cause

of this problem. According to Pascoe et al., 2020, academic stress can reduce

motivation, hinder academic achievement, and lead to increased college dropout rates.

Academic stress has also been shown to negatively impact mental health in students

(15). Since the educational system plays the leading role in the increase of stress levels

experienced by its students, some of the common stressors reported in academic

settings include excessive assignments, poor time management and social skills, peer

competition, etc. (Fairbrother & Warn, 2014). Never-ending stress or academic pressure

of studies can also be a chief reason leading to depression in students (12) Students

are a pillar of the future in building an educated society (10). If they will be unable to
handle stress and pressure, it can negatively affect the economy and society as they

are the ones who will hold the future.

In several countries, university students were studied concerning stress, and results

show that depression disorder and apparent anxiety are correlated to educational needs

and demands (3). Stress negatively impacts students' mental peace, and 42.3% of

students of Canadian university respondents testified devastating levels of anxiety and

stress (35, 36). Moreover, there were (58.1%) students who stated academic projects

are too tough to handle for them. In Germany, Bulgaria, and Poland, a huge sample of

respondents consider assignments a burden on their lives that cannot stand compared

to relationships or any other concern in life (14).

Emphasized by Jacinto, M. (2024) Academic pressure has significant effects on

students' mental health in the Philippines. Students experience worry, tension, and

dread related to academic settings or tasks, including exams, assignments, and social

pressures. This leads to moderate to high levels of academic anxiety among grade 10

students. A survey conducted with 1879 respondents from the Philippines resulted to

16.3% of the respondents rating psychological impact of the pandemic as moderate-to-

severe, 16.9% reported depression symptoms as moderate-to-severe, 28.8% reported

anxiety levels as moderate-to-severe, and lastly 13.4% reported moderate-to severe

stress levels wherein students where one of the factors in the survey conducted

(Pubmed, 2020).
Recent research of Gonzaga, M. & Oblianda, L. (2022) There were a total of 307

respondents who are the online students enrolled in the different Universities in Davao

Region, and were selected through random sampling. The result reveals that the

students in Davao Region perceived a high level of academic stress, moderate level of

academic burnout, and moderate level of self-efficacy.

This study is relevant to the Grade 10 students. An awareness of these stressors can

help them foster a healthier relationship with school, minimize risks of both physiological

diseases and mental disorders, and demonstrate positive help-seeking behaviors with

stress as they move on to a different playing field in college, it is important for students

to have an understanding these concepts so they are able to judge the extent to which

stress may affect them as well as know how to manage that stress in a proper way.

Through this study, teachers can also have a better understanding of their responsibility

as a potential stressor.
 Review of the Related Literature

Work Factors

High schools strive to train their students for academic and personal achievement -
offering teenagers a wide variety of curricular programs in pursuit of this goal. Students
are prepared in areas much outside the academic curriculum in high school. Secondary
education is widely believed to provide the optimum setting to prepare young people,
predominantly adolescents, for healthy and productive adult lives, including participation
in social, political, and economic spheres (Jacob J. & Lehner. S) The persistent and
increased expectations for honor students to perform at the highest level may exact a
heavy toll on their social well-being and development as their workloads become
heavier. The University of San Diego reports that high schoolers spend 16.8 hours
weekly on homework. In a study by Better Sleep Council, 74% of teens say homework
causes stress. A significant workload reduces students' intrinsic motivation, or their
inner drive to participate in an activity because it is interesting or enjoyable according to
research by Greene and Azevedo (2017).

Academic pressure is defined as "the tension, discomfort, and other emotions caused
by the pressure from school, family, and society in the learning process" (Vallejo 2023).
Parents, guardians, or educators encourage children to plan ahead and meet academic
milestones from a young age; in some cases, they even make it mandatory. In the
Philippines, academic pressure has a major impact on students' mental health. Exams,
assignments, and social pressures are just a few of the academic environments and
tasks that cause anxiety, tension, and dread in students. Students in senior high school
have moderate to severe levels of academic anxiety as a result.
Conceptual Framework

IV DV

Academic Workload Academic Stress

Written works Academic burnout

Performance tasks Academic pressure
Part I. Work Factors
Instruction. Please check the box that corresponds to your answer. Do not leave any
items unanswered. See the details of the Likert-scale with its description below:

5 - Always; 4 - Mostly of the time; 3 - Sometimes 2 - Rarely 1 - Never

A. Work Factors 5 4 3 2 1
Alway Most of Sometimes Rarely Never
s the
time

1. The size of the curriculum/workload

is excessive

2. There are too many deadlines in

school that are difficult to meet.

3. Examinations are very stressful to

me.

4. I don’t have enough time for my

interests and hobbies outside of
school.

5. I feel fatigued or tired after doing

school work.

6. I think about my class requirements

even after school hours.

7. I get frequent headaches because I

spend hours doing school work
online.

8. My sleeping hours have changed

because of academic demands

9. I often stay up late at night just to

finish my assignments

10. I find it difficult to do household

tasks because I spend most of my
time doing school work online.
Source

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