Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: February | Volume: 7 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 467-473
A Cross-Sectional Study on Physical Activity and Perceived Stress among School Going Adolescents
Satya Raj1, Shankar Kanagasabapathy2
1Associate Professor, Unit of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Christian Medical College, Vellore -632002. Tamil Nadu, India
2Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Meenakshi Medical College and Research Institute, Kancheepuram -631552. Tamil Nadu, India.
Corresponding Author: Shankar Kanagasabapathy
ABSTRACT
Background: Stress is defined as events in the environment or chronic conditions that objectively threaten the physical and/or psychological health and well-being of individuals of a particular age in a particular society. Adolescence is a period of change and transition that usually brings with it numerous stressors. The levels of stress also tend to show an increase from the period of preadolescence to adolescence. Studies show that changes from low physical activity, to moderate or high physical activity levels was associated with lower levels of stress. But many studies suggest that students, including young adults do not meet the standard recommendations for physical activity. Hence this study was conducted to ascertain the association between Physical activity and perceived stress levels among adolescent school students.
Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a random sample of 400 adolescent school students’ studying in the Higher/Senior Secondary classes in schools in Kancheepuram town, in the state of Tamil Nadu. Physical activity was assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and stress levels were analyzed by Perceived stress scale.
Results: It was observed that 170 (42.5%) of the students had low levels of physical activity, and only 90 (22.5%) reported high levels of physical activity. Around 156 (39%) of the students had high stress and 144(36%) of them reported moderate amount of stress. It was observed that nearly 50% of the students who indulged in low levels of physical activity had high levels of perceived stress, and students who were highly active had low stress. This association between physical activity and stress was found to be statistically significant.
Discussion: Given the humongous academic stress the students have to undergo in India during their, 11th and 12 grades, it is preferable that more time is allotted for leisure time physical activity in their schools, so as to help the students manage their stress more effectively.
Keywords: Physical activity, perceived stress, adolescent, school students
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