Examination of stress in terms of social studies course self-efficacy of the students in secondary school

This research is a study that examines the academic stresses of the students in detail by categorizing the students at 5th, 6th, and 7th grade according to the Social Studies course self-efficacy. As observed in the related literature, the self-efficacy studies are generally carried out on the teachers. The research is fundamental since it examines the academic stress status of the students whose Social Studies course efficacies vary and fulfils the lack in the literature. The quantitative data were collected through the descriptive method in this study in which the mixed research method was applied. The students studying at the 5th, 6th and 7th grades in the secondary schools in Rize City Centre generate the population of the research. "Social Studies Self-Efficacy Scale" was applied to the 954 students. The qualitative data were collected through the focus group interviews carried out with the 9 students among the students to whom the scale was applied. The parents of these 9 students were also included in the focus group interviews. As a result of this research, it was concluded that there was a significant difference in the stress status of the students whose self-efficacy varies from one another. It was determined that the stress levels of the students with high self-efficacyin the Social Studies course in terms of courses, teachers, environment, and their families were lesser than the ones of the students with low self-efficacy. The students with moderate self-efficacy level experience stress in some subjects. Keywords: Social Studies, Self-efficacy, Academic Stress, Secondary School, Stud