Psychosocial Consequences of NEET Preparation: Examining Stress, Anxiety, and Home Environment among Higher Secondary Students

One of the most competitive gateway exams in India is the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), which determines the course of education and career of aspiring medical students. This research examines the psychosocial effects of NEET preparation among higher secondary students, focusing on perceived academic stress, exam-related anxiety, and perceived quality of the home environment. A cross-sectional survey design was used, and a sample of 400 higher secondary students (Classes 11th & 12th) attending NEET-oriented streams or coaching centers in one urban district in South India was used to collect the data. Perceived academic stress, test anxiety, depressive symptoms, and home environment dimension scales were measured using standardized scales, which included emotional support, parental pressure, and conflict dimensions. Quantitative statistics consisted of descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlations, and hierarchical regression. Findings showed that over two-thirds of the sample experienced high academic stress and moderate to severe examination anxiety. Students who participated in intensive coaching programmes and repeated NEET attempts were found to be experiencing significantly higher levels of stress and anxiety as compared to first-time aspirants and non-coaching students. Perceived parental pressure and critical home climate were risk factors with respect to stress and anxiety, and emotional support and open communication at home acted as protective factors.