A Study to assess the Correlation between Stress, Body Mass Index and Blood Pressure among adolescents in selected Pre-University Colleges, Mangaluru

Majority of the adolescents undergo stress, whatever the sources may be internal or external, it hampers the major functioning of the body. Most of the youngsters face multiple problems in their life. Each individual has to cope with different kinds of pressure laid down by the society and family. Correlational Descriptive design to assess the Correlation between Stress, Body Mass Index and Blood Pressure among adolescents in selected Pre-University colleges, Mangaluru. The data collection instruments were Demographic proforma, Perceived stress scale and clinical profile. The results of the study revealed regarding level of stress majority 93(77.50%) had moderate level of stress, 16(13.33%) had high level of stress and only 11(9.17%) had low level of stress among adolescents studying in selected pre-university colleges. Majority 73(60.84%) had healthy weight, 46(38.33%) were underweight, one (0.83%) were overweight and none were obese among adolescents studying in selected pre-university colleges. Majority 92(76.67%) had normal blood pressure, 28(23.33%) were prehypertensive and none were in stage 1 and 2 of hypertension among adolescents studying in pre university colleges. Correlation between stress and BMI was weak negative (r= -0.0964) indicating that increase in stress level among adolescents their BMI decreases or vice versa. Correlation between BMI and systolic blood pressure was weak positive (r = 0.0762) indicating increase in BMI among adolescents there is increase in Systolic blood pressure or vice versa. The correlation between BMI and diastolic blood pressure was weak positive (r = 0.0853) indicating increase in BMI among adolescents there is increase in diastolic blood pressure or vice versa. correlation between stress and systolic blood pressure was weak positive (r = 0.023) indicating increase in stress among adolescents there is increase in Systolic blood pressure or vice versa. The correlation between BMI and diastolic blood pressure was weak positive (r = 0.003) indicating increase in stress among adolescents there is increase in diastolic blood pressure or vice versa. Hence, the null hypothesis was rejected H01 and research hypothesis was accepted. There was significant association between stress and in all demographic variables like Age in years, Religion, Class of study, Type of family, Number of siblings, Education of father, Education of mother, Occupation of father, Occupation of mother, Family Income per month and type of food consumed (p<0.05) except in stream of division (p>0.05). There was significant association between BMI and in all demographic variables like Class of study, Type of family, Number of siblings, Education of father, Education of mother, Occupation of father, Occupation of mother, Family Income per month and type of food consumed (p<0.05) except in Age in years, Religion, stream of division (p>0.05).There was significant association between systolic blood pressure and in demographic variables like Age in years, Religion, stream of division, Class of study, Education of father, Education of mother, Occupation of mother, Family Income per month and type of food consumed (p<0.05) except in Number of siblings, Type of family, Occupation of father and type of food consumed (p>0.05). Hence the research hypothesis was accepted and null hypothesis rejected. There was significant association between diastolic blood pressure and in demographic variables like Age in years, Religion, stream of division, Class of study, Number of siblings, Education of father, Education of mother, Occupation of father, Family Income per month and type of food consumed (p<0.05) except in Type of family, Occupation of mother and type of food consumed (p>0.05).