Stress among Maltese pupils attending private secondary schools

Abstract

The aim was to investigate school-related stress among Maltese privatesecondary school pupils. The study set out to investigate (i) the association between the levels of self-reported stress and sex, grade level, age-position and socio-economic background, in Form 1 and Form 4 boys and girls, (ii) the degree of relationship between self-reported stress and attainment in Mathematics, English and Maltese separately. The sample consisted of 180 Form 1 pupils (90 boys and 90 girls) and 180 Form 4 pupils (90 boys and 90 girls), attending two private schools during the scholastic year 1994-1995. A stress questionnaire and attainment tests in Mathematics, English and Maltese were constructed and administered by the present writer. Results showed clear sex differences in stress and that girls exceeded boys in stress as age progresses. Age-position was shown not to be related to differences in the perception of stress. Moreover, pupils coming from low-socio economic backgrounds and/or those whose mothers work were found to be significantly more stressed than their peers. Findings also showed that the higher the level of stress perceived by the sample, the lower was their scholastic attainment.