Adolescent Perspectives on the Role of Families in School Stress

Scientific evidence on the role played by family relationships in school stress is scarce and focuses on only a few factors. Consequently, the aim of this study was to explore the role played by family relationships in school stress in greater depth, based on adolescent boys' and girls' perspectives. Intensity sampling was used to select students from high schools in Spain with high levels of school stress and low levels of school stress. Next, 24 focus groups were established with 80 boys and 82 girls from years two and four of secondary education. Results were analyzed using thematic analysis. Four overarching themes were identified: situations in the family home, shared family time and supportive family practices, pressure to comply with family standards, and family reactions to academic results. Although boys and girls had similar views on the role of some family factors, certain differences were also identified. In conclusion, drawing on adolescents' experiences, we were able to describe an array of aspects in family relationships that affect school stress in adolescence, thereby advancing our current understanding of the role played by family in school stress and identifying possible avenues for future research.