Perceived Parental Pressure and Internalizing Symptoms in Young Adults From High-Achieving Schools

Abstract

Adolescent depression and anxiety rates have been rising over the last decade. One suspected factor underlying these increasing rates is achievement pressure, including the pressures stemming from parental academic expectations and the competitive culture in high-achieving schools (HAS). The current study extends existing research on adolescent well-being by examining the associations among attending a high-achieving school, perceived parental academic pressure, and current psychological well-being in college students. Using an online survey, 197 undergraduates at a Midwest university reported where they went to high school, their perceptions of parental academic pressure during high school, and their current anxiety- and depression-like symptoms. High schools were categorized as either high-achieving or not high-achieving based on standardized test scores. It was hypothesized that anxiety- and depression-like symptoms would be positively associated with both HAS attendance and perceived parental academic pressure. Findings indicated that reported internalizing symptoms and perceived parental academic pressure did not differ between those who attended HAS and those who did not attend HAS. There was a small correlation between internalizing symptoms and perceived parental academic pressure. Further research is needed to fully understand the factors contributing to the increasing rates of adolescent depression and anxiety. (IV)