Well-being and Stress Among Upper Secondary School Pupils in Sweden

Background. Te psychological health of young people in Sweden has declined since measurements began to be taken in 1985. Te reasons for the increase in stress and decline in psychological well-being among adolescents have been debated during the past few years. Objective. Te aims of this study were to explore: 1) pupils’ experience of student health services, family, friends, recuperation and the learning environment; 2) whether there is a diference between introverted and extroverted pupils’ sense of well-being, perceived stress, views of the learning environment, and relationships with friends and family; and 3) the degree to which the diferent aspects of school life predict well-being and stress. Design. Data were collected by means of a web survey in which 1045 respondents participated. Results. Te results showed that there are signifcant diferences in perceptions of well-being and stress depending on gender and the type of study program pupils were enrolled in. Te results also revealed signifcant diferences between introverts’ and extraverts’ relationships with family and friends, experience of the learning environment, and reported well-being and stress. A series of hierarchical linear regressions revealed that there were several factors afecting pupils’ reported well-being and stress. Te learning environment and relationships with family and friends were signifcant predictors for both outcome variables. Pupils’ ability to recuperate from their work was found to be the most impactful predictor for well-being and stress. Conclusion. Our results suggest that the way in which teachers interact with pupils is an important factor infuencing pupils’ experience of well-being and stress. Furthermore, our results suggest that pupils would beneft from student health services being made more visible and pro-active in their interaction with students.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC

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