Gender-specific differences in the perceived antecedents of academic stress.

This study was undertaken to establish the existence of any gender-specific differences in the perceived antecedents of academic stress. The Academic Pressure Scale for Adolescents was administered to 112 girls and 160 boys attending high school. Significant gender-based differences were obtained on eight of the 35 questions of the scale. In each case girls reported greater stress than boys. This study provides strong evidence that girls and boys of high school age differentially experience the antecedents of academic stress and that adolescent girls experience greater academic stress than boys.