Academic pressure and its effects on the mental health of  secondary school students in the Noakhali coastal region of  Bangladesh

This research investigated the sources of academic pressure and their impact on the mental  health of secondary students in the Noakhali coastal region. A quantitative research design was  used, and data were collected from 180 students across six secondary schools using a structured  five-point Likert-scale questionnaire. Data were analysed by using the statistics package  (SPSS), including reliability analysis, descriptive statistics, t-test, and Pearson's correlation  analysis. The findings uncovered a high rate of academic pressure, with mean scores (> 4) for  major sources such as teacher expectations, family expectations, and competitive school  environments, etc. Socio-economic influences such as family obligations and financial  burdens, as well as environmental factors, were found to significantly increase academic stress  (p < .001). The results further proved that academic pressure had a huge negative impact on  students' mental health. The study presents context-specific empirical findings about the mental  health of adolescents in coastal areas and highlights the need for integrated school, family, and  policy-level interventions to minimise academic pressure and support the mental health of  adolescents.