THE EFFECTS OF MEDITATION ON ACADEMIC STRESS IN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Abstract
High school students should be very concerned about academic stress because it can negatively affect both their academic achievement and general well-being. Meditation has been proposed as a potential intervention to alleviate academic stress. This study examined how high school students' psychological health and levels of academic stress were affected by meditation. Stress is the result of outside forces acting beyond one's control and causing mental or emotional distress. Adolescent males and girls aged 14-18 studying 9th to 12th class were assessed for academic stress levels. There were 250 kids in the sample, 120 boys and 120 girls. It has been determined and standardised that the 40-item Academic Stress Scale, and administered to assess cognitive, affective, behavioral, physical, and social stressors. Gender did not appear to have any bearing on the Physical, Social, Cognitive, or Affective categories. Using the perceived stress scale, or PSS, students' anxiety levels were statistically assessed. Out of the five elements—physical, familial, academic, relational, and social— according to this study, academic worries were the second largest source of stress, after social considerations. Relationship and family issues were the least significant sources of stress, after physical issues.
Keywords: Academic stress, Meditation, Adolescent male, Perceived stress scale, emotional regulation, mental health.
