Leiden University Student Repository

Billiet, Lara (2024)

Stress door een culturele lens: stresservaringen en coping bij leerlingen met een westerse en niet-westerse (migratie)achtergrond

Master thesis | Education and Child Studies (MSc)

Recent data indicates that 49% of Dutch youth aged 12 to 25 reported frequent stress in the past month. Growing evidence suggests that childhood stress has concerning long-term effects on mental and physical health due to its negative effects on brain development and the stress network. Additionally, the increasing diversity in Dutch society underscores the importance of understanding stress and its effects, especially in vulnerable groups like children with a migration background. Previous research, mostly among adults and adolescents, shows inconsistent findings on the role of ethnicity in stress among children. This study examines the relationship between the ethnic (migration) backgrounds of students in grades 7 and 8 in Dutch primary schools and their current stress levels, perceptions of stressors, and coping strategies. The study included 92 students from primary schools in the Randstad area. Employing a cross-sectional research design, measurement instruments comprised self...Show moreRecent data indicates that 49% of Dutch youth aged 12 to 25 reported frequent stress in the past month. Growing evidence suggests that childhood stress has concerning long-term effects on mental and physical health due to its negative effects on brain development and the stress network. Additionally, the increasing diversity in Dutch society underscores the importance of understanding stress and its effects, especially in vulnerable groups like children with a migration background. Previous research, mostly among adults and adolescents, shows inconsistent findings on the role of ethnicity in stress among children. This study examines the relationship between the ethnic (migration) backgrounds of students in grades 7 and 8 in Dutch primary schools and their current stress levels, perceptions of stressors, and coping strategies. The study included 92 students from primary schools in the Randstad area. Employing a cross-sectional research design, measurement instruments comprised self-report questionnaires, including the Adolescent Stress Questionnaire-Short (ASQ-S) for stress assessment, the Bicultural Stress Scale for cultural stressors, and the Brief-COPE for coping strategies. Analysis showed significant differences in stress levels, with non-Western students reporting higher overall stress levels and social-cultural stressors than Western peers. However, non-Western students did not employ more problem-focused, emotion-focused, and avoidance coping strategies than their Western peers. Overall, non-Western students experienced significantly higher stress levels, reported more socio-cultural stressors, but did not employ more coping strategies compared to their Western counterparts. Various factors, including acculturation processes, parental support, socio-economic status, and cultural conflicts, may contribute to these disparities. Understanding these findings, can provide insights for effective psychosocial support and culturally sensitive interventions for non-Western students. By recognizing their specific stress experiences, caregivers and schools can develop and implement targeted interventions that promote their well-being.Show less

stress

coping

children

ethnicity

Author

Billiet, Lara

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

Forensische Gezinspedagogiek

Supervisors

Jong, R. de

ECTS Credits

20

Language

nl