Adolescence is characterized by physical maturation of the brain and body, giving rise to intense psychological and physical changes.

F= Frequency

P = Percentage

Fig: 1.1 Distribution of respondents in reference to their stress caused by peer pressure

Table: 1.1 describes the stress caused by peer pressure .It can be seen that most of the male adolescents from middle socio-economic group that is 66 percent  were in the support that stress was caused by peer pressure while 38 per cent male from lower and 36 per cent from upper  socio-economic group were in the favour of the same statement,  30 per cent female from middle socio-economic group 28 per cent from upper and 14 per cent from lower socio-economic group were also in the favour of the statement that stress is always caused by peer pressure. Majority of the female adolescents from lower socio-economic group i.e. 54 per cent 38 per cent from upper and 32 per cent from middle socio-economic group were in the favour that stress is always caused by peer pressure while36 per cent male from lower, 30 per cent from upper and 16 per cent from the lower socio-economic group were also in the favour of the same statement.28 per cent male from upper 16 from lower and 12 per cent from middle socio-economic group accepted that stress is occasionally caused by peer pressure whereas 36 per cent female from middle 34 per cent from upper and 32 per cent from lower socio-economic group also favoured the statement.  No one was in favour that stress is never caused by peer pressure while a very less number of adolescents were in favour that stress is rarely caused by peer pressure. It was observed that most of the male adolescents from middle socio-economic group were in the favoure that stress is frequently caused by peer pressure while female from lower socio-economic group were in the support that stress was always caused by peer pressure. Adolescent boys from middle socio-economic status want to be accepted by their peers by being in the popular groups. They could give more importance to friends than family. They are under constant pressure to dress in a certain way, speak the teen lingo and be ‘cool’. More often than not, all this implies that the teenager has to put aside her true self and pretend to be someone she or he is not, which can be a very stressful experience. Girls from lower socio-economic group also want to do the same but their financial conditions do not allow spending money or time with their peers causes stress.

Omizo et.al., (1988) investigates stressors and symptoms in students in the order of frequency, elementary students cited family problems and school problems; junior school students cited general adolescent problems, peer pressure and family problems; and high school students cited the future, school problems and peer pressure. Students identified psychological, physiological, behavioural and emotional symptoms of stress.

 F= Frequency

P = Percentage

 Fig: 1.2 Distribution of respondents in reference to their stress caused by physical appearance

Table: 1.2 reveals the distribution of respondents in reference to their stress caused by physical appearance. It was interesting to know that majority of the male adolescents from lower socio-economic group i.e. 44 per cent and 34 per cent each from upper and middle socio-economic group were in the favour that stress is frequently caused by physical appearance while majority of the female adolescents from upper i.e 44 per cent, 38 per cent from middle and 32 per cent from lower socio-economic group also accepted the same statement. 28 per cent male from middle socio-economic group 22 from lower and 18 per cent from upper socio-economic group said that stress is always caused by physical appearance whereas 26 per cent female from lower and middle each and 18 per cent from upper socio-economic group accepted that stress is always caused by physical appearance. Table also shows that 30 per cent male from upper followed by middle and lower socio-economic group i.e 26 and 12 per cent respectively were in the favour that stress is occasionally caused by physical appearance whereas 26 per cent female from middle 24 per cent from upper and 22 per cent from lower socio-economic group were in the favour of the same statement.  A less number of adolescents were in the favour that stress is rarely or never caused by physical appearance. Result shows that girls from upper socio-economic group and boys from lower socio-economic status were more physical appearance conscious. Physical changes can also be a cause of stress among teenagers. Adolescents go through some emotional and physical changes which can leave them confused whether their development is normal or not. Lack of knowledge and financial problems in male from lower socio-economic group may be one of the cause while girls from upper socio-economic group feel pressure to look physically attractive is also the cause of stress  Gray and Rotttmann,(1988), stated that pressure over academic grades, lack of time to accomplish personal needs, concern over the future, the financial problems, the meaning and purpose of life, the physical appearance and the job opportunities after graduation were most often perceived as stressors among undergraduate college students.