Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1529778
13 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 24 NOVEMBER 2024 JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Study shows girls feel more pressured by schoolwork than boys MALTESE 15-year-olds rank sixth among the 44 countries in terms of feeling pressured by schoolwork, an international study shows. The percentage of Maltese 15-year-old girls who feel stressed by schoolwork (79%) is notably higher than the inter- national average of 62%. This finding emerges from the latest instalment of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Chil- dren (HBSC) study, which ex- amines adolescent social con- texts in Europe, Canada, and Central Asia. The school-based study, conducted every four years in collaboration with the WHO Regional Office for Eu- rope, is based on interviews with 11-, 13-, and 15-year-olds. The data collected in 2022 show that nearly 8 out of 10 Maltese 15-year-old girls feel pressured by schoolwork, com- pared to 61% of Maltese boys. Among 13-year-olds, 58% of boys feel pressure from school- work, while this figure rises to 74% for girls of the same age. 11-year-olds of both sex- es report feeling less pressure, with only 36% of boys and 35% of girls feeling pressured by schoolwork. Although the majority of teens, particularly females, report feeling pressured by schoolwork, the situation has slightly improved in recent years. A comparison with pre- vious surveys shows that the percentage of 15-year-old girls who feel stressed has declined from 83% in 2014 to 79% in 2022. Among boys, the per- centage has dropped from 65% in 2014 to 61%. Additionally, while Maltese teens were the most stressed among all countries surveyed in 2014 and 2018, the latest survey shows they have now been overtaken by teens from five other countries, with Italy topping the stress rankings. The report highlights that school pressure increases with age across most countries surveyed, particularly among girls. Furthermore, the study indicates that the gender gap between boys and girls is wid- ening, with girls aged 13 and 15 reporting higher levels of pressure from schoolwork than boys. The study's authors empha- sise the "urgent" need for fur- ther research to understand the sources of this gender gap in schoolwork pressure. They also advocate for interventions to address girls' high levels of school stress and create more supportive environments for them. Recommendations include equipping teachers and school staff with the time and re- sources to help students man- age school demands. Schools are also encouraged to devel- op gender-sensitive strategies to support students, making workloads more manageable and promoting positive stu- dent health. The survey also revealed that only 17% of Maltese 15-year- old girls and 22% of boys enjoy school a lot. This figure has decreased from 25% in 2018 to 22% among girls. Teens find it easier to talk to mothers The survey also examined stu- dents' family life and relation- ships with their parents. The results suggest that teens have much better relationships with their mothers. Among 15-year- old girls, 78% find it easy to talk to their mothers, compared to only 58% who find it easy to talk to their fathers. Similarly, among boys in the same age group, 83% find it easy to talk to their mothers, while 73% feel the same about their fathers. The survey further showed that most teens still have a daily meal with their families, with figures ranging from 70% among 11-year-old boys to 52% among 15-year-old girls. The survey also found that 76% of Maltese teens live with both parents, 13% live with their mother, 2% with their father, and 8% in stepfamilies where one parent has children from a previous relationship. An international school survey reveals that 79% of 15-year-old girls and 74% of 13-year-old girls feel pressured by schoolwork, compared to 61% and 79% of boys 11-year-olds 13-year-olds 15-year-olds Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Find it easy to talk to their mother 91 94 82 89 78 83 Find it easy to talk to their father 77 85 61 79 58 73 Have daily family meals with family 69 70 56 70 52 53 Like school a lot 59 55 25 26 17 22 Feel pressured by school work 35 36 74 58 79 61