Incidence and determinants of chronic stress as a health risk factor in a group of Polish high school students

Abstract

Introduction: Stress is an everyday experience for most individuals; chronic stress may lead to numerous disorders and diseases. In high school, last-grade students are at particularly high exposure to stress as they experience the pressure of the upcoming final exams. In addition, this stage of early adulthood is associated with important decisions regarding the choice of occupation and career as well as building one's own independence. Aim of the research: To assess the incidence of chronic stress in a group of Polish high school students and to identify the potential impact of selected sociodemographic, health, and personality type-related factors on the intensity of stress. Material and methods: The study was conducted in a group of 250 persons aged 18-19 years. Study material was collected using a proprietary questionnaire, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) questionnaire, and the DS-14 questionnaire for the measurement of type-D personality traits. Results: High stress levels were identified in 58.6% of subjects; stress was more common in female students (p = 0.0002) and individuals with poor health self-evaluation (p < 0.0001). The variability in PSS-10 scores was best explained by the variability in negative affectivity (R2 = 55%) and type-D personality (R2 = 12%). Conclusions: Serious chronic stress burden poses a threat to the subjects' health. A school prevention team should be prepared to control stress as a health risk factor in students, which capable of implementing efficient preventive measures.