Perceived Parental Pressure and Academic Stress Among School Students Aged 16-18 Years in Thanjavur, Tamilnadu

Academic expectations can be an important part of adolescent development, but students may experience these expectations as pressure. This study examined perceived parental pressure and academic stress among school students aged 16-18 years in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, and assessed the association between the two variables. A quantitative, descriptive-correlational, cross-sectional design was used. Convenience sampling yielded 61 consenting students. Data were collected through an online structured questionnaire containing a 20-item perceived parental-pressure measure and a 30-item academic-stress measure. Descriptive statistics, Cronbach's alpha, and Pearson's product-moment correlation were used. The mean perceived parental-pressure score was 52.31 (SD = 17.07), and the mean academic-stress score was 85.62 (SD = 22.59). Internal consistency was high in this sample (α = .95 and .96, respectively). Perceived parental pressure was positively associated with academic stress, r = .38, p = .003, 95% CI [.14, .57]. Students reporting greater perceived parental pressure tended to report greater academic stress. Because the study was cross-sectional and used a convenience sample, the findings do not establish causation and should not be generalised to all adolescents. The results highlight the value of realistic academic expectations, supportive family communication, and accessible school-based student support.