Psychological stress in adolescent school athletes: A narrative synthesis of environmental and gender differences

Psychological stress has emerged as a critical concern in adolescent sport due to the simultaneous demands of academic performance and competitive participation. Environmental context and gender are important determinants that may influence how young athletes perceive and cope with stress. However, evidence comparing rural and urban adolescent athletes remains fragmented. Therefore, the present narrative synthesis examines existing literature related to perceived stress among adolescent athletes, with particular attention to environmental setting and gender differences. Evidence from sport psychology, educational psychology, and adolescent development literature indicates that urban environments often expose athletes to greater academic competition, environmental stressors, and social expectations, while rural settings may involve challenges related to limited resources and infrastructure. Furthermore, research consistently shows that female adolescents tend to report higher perceived stress than males due to emotional processing differences, social expectations, and coping patterns. Overall, the literature suggests that environmental conditions and gender-based psychosocial factors interact to shape stress experiences among adolescent athletes. These findings highlight the importance of context-sensitive psychological interventions and supportive school sport environments aimed at promoting the mental health and holistic development of young athletes.