Abstract:
The current study aimed to investigate the sources and levels of stress reported by students of an urban, multi-ethnic secondary school in New Zealand. Six hundred and ninety-seven students aged 11 to 18 years, one third of whom were overseas born, completed a questionnaire, the Adolescent Stress Questionnaire (ASQ) (Byrne, 2007). The ASQ measures stress across ten domains broadly representative of adolescent experience at the present time. Effects for age, gender and ethnicity were identified, with effects reported for girls over boys, Filipino students over other categories of ethnicity and for years 9 and 10 compared to both older and younger students. In addition there was a significant finding for Asian students who were markedly less stressed that other ethnic groupings. With respect to sources of stress, students identified home and school, and interpersonal relationships as the major sources. Results have implications for policy and practice at all levels, especially in the school setting, where reducing stressors and increasing support to students is recommended.
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