Table 6 Bi-variable and multi-variable regression analysis showing associations between independent variables and stress among high school students in Northwest Ethiopia, 2021 (n = 810)

Age

≤19

292

245

1.236(0.923–1.655)

1.122(0.813–1.547)

0.485

≥20

134

139

1

1

1

Grade

9

140

115

1.403(0.940–2.095)

1.073(0.695–1.656)

0.751

10

110

94

1.349(0.887–2.051)

1.130(0.717–1.7820

0.598

11

104

92

1.303(0.854–1.988)

1.122(0.714–1.763)

0.618

12

72

83

1

1

1

Residency

Rural

318

253

1.525(1.125–2.065)

1.395(1.010–1.925)

0.044*

Town

108

131

1

1

1

Marital status

Divorced

8

2

3.636(0.689–9.194)

1.128(0.932–2.345

0.092

Single

396

362

0.994(0.534–1.853)

1.120(0.574–2.186

0.739

Married

22

20

1

1

1

Mother educational status

unable to read and write

298

276

0.393(0.124–1.247)

0.340(0.098–1.185)

0.090

can read and write but not attending formal education

90

79

0.414(0.127–1.353)

0.384(0.108–1.377)

0.142

learned 1–8 grade

18

18

0.364(0.097–1.358)

0.364(0.088–1.500)

0.162

secondary education

7

9

0.468(0.103–2.120)

0.569(0.116–2.799)

0.488

Diploma and above

4

11

1

1

1

Academic performance

Poor

44

24

1.886(0.954–3.726)

1.645(0.803–3.371)

0.174

Sufficient

277

227

1.255(0.763–2.064)

1.221(0.726–2.506)

0.452

Good

70

97

0.742(0.425–1.296)

0.714(0.399–1.279)

0.257

Very good

35

36

1

1

1

Alcohol

High risk

44

20

2.179(1.251–3.782)

1.828(1.012–3.303)

0.045*

Moderate risk

68

53

1.271(0.859–1.880)

1.054(0.698–1.592)

0.802

Low risk

314

311

1

1

1

Khat

High risk

22

16

1.276(0.660–2.468)

1.064(0.532–2.128)

0.861

Moderate risk

16

8

1.856(0.785–4.388)

1.541(0.598–3.372)

0.370

Low risk

388

360

1

1

1

Cigarette

High risk

22

11

1.852(0.886–3.874)

1.491(0.675–3.291

0.323

Moderate risk

11

9

1.132(0.464–2.763)

1.057(0.405–2.759)

0.911

Low risk

393

364

1

1

1

Social support

poor

143

106

1.757(1.233–2.504)

1.739(1.203–2.515)

0.003**

Moderate

174

136

1.667(1.192–2.331)

1.126(0.981–1.451)

0.081

Strong

109

142

1

1

1