Stress levels and stress management related to pursuing higher education among Matthayomsuksa 6 students

Abstract

Secondary school students demonstrate significant academic competitiveness as they prepare for higher education challenges, coupled with the pressures of various concurrent factors. The objective of this study aimed to examine the level of stress, stress management, and factors associated with stress. The sample of the study comprised 250 Secondary 6. Data collection involved the use of a personal characteristics questionnaire, a stress level questionnaire, and a questionnaire on stress management. The reliability with Cronbach's alpha coefficients of .86 and .75, respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square correlation, and Pearson's correlation coefficient. The results showed that the sample group experienced the highest level of stress, at 46.80%, and had a moderate level of stress management, at 88.40 %. The students had a moderate level of stress management through problem-solving and activity substitution, while emotion-focused coping was low. The analysis of correlations revealed that the academic program and the desired faculty to study were significantly correlated with stress (p<.001). However, academic performance shows a significant negative correlation with stress (r=-0.264, p<.001). Therefore, the study's findings provide valuable insights for individuals organizing activities to appropriately reduce students' stress levels.