Perceptions of Stressors by High School Students

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Abstract
A 26-item questionnaire was administered to 1,301 students in a midwestern, suburban high school to identify potential stressors as perceived by the students. Factor analysis revealed four dimensions of stress among twelve of these items: interpersonal aggression, goal conflictlsupport, social conflictlsupport, and perceived environmental mastery. The remaining items identified other stressors, mediating factors, social supports, and coping mechanisms. Analysis of variance and contingency table analysis identified status-group differences. Nearly 10% of the students indicated that they did not handle stress very well. The academic performance grouping system, having jobs and keeping up with school, and fear of theft of personal belongings were identified by students as being the stressors of greatest concern.