The Effect of Optimism on Academic Stress of Secondary School Students

The main purpose of this study was to explore the effects of optimism on academic stress of secondary school students. This study was conducted with a sample of 821 (366 boys and 455 girls) secondary school students studying in eight schools of four districts in Yangon Region. The required sample was selected by using random sampling technique. Secondary school students‟ optimism, academic stress and demographic data were examined and collected by using a self-reported questionnaire survey method. As a result of descriptive statistics, most of the students in this study were optimistic students and they also have average academic stress. The results of t-test revealed that there was a significant difference between students‟ optimism by gender but the students‟ academic stress was not. ANOVA results showed that there were significant differences in students‟ optimism and academic stress according to age, districts and schools. Then, the academic stress of secondary school students had significant differences with regard to their parents‟ education and no. of siblings. The results also showed that there were significant relationships among optimism and academic stress of secondary school students. As a result of regression analysis, optimism and age of secondary school students made significant predictive contribution to their academic stress