Abstract
Senior high school students are at a developmental stage marked by increasing academic demands, social pressures, and identity formation, which may affect their emotional well-being. These conditions make adolescents particularly vulnerable to experiencing emotional distress within the school setting. This study examined the emotional states of senior high school students in a private school in Northern Luzon. Using a quantitative, descriptive-comparative research design, data were collected from 368 respondents using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) to assess the three dimensions of emotional states, namely depression, anxiety, and stress. Findings revealed that students generally experience elevated levels of emotional distress. Anxiety emerged as the most prevalent emotional concern, with a majority of respondents falling under the extremely severe category (67.90%). Depression was also notably present, with many students classified under moderate (28.50%) to extremely severe (28.80%) levels, while stress was found to be moderate to severe (26.10-27.70%) among the respondents. In terms of differences, the results indicated a statistically significant difference in emotional states when grouped according to sex, with female students consistently reporting higher levels of depression (MR= 196.03), anxiety (MR= 207.58), and stress (MR= 200.40) compared to male students (MR= 171.07; 157.62; 165.98). On the other hand, no significant differences were found when respondents were grouped according to academic strand, family structure, and socioeconomic status. The findings suggested that emotional distress is a widespread concern among senior high school students and is not limited to specific demographic groups. This highlights the need for comprehensive and inclusive school-based mental health programs that address the emotional well-being of students and equip them with effective coping strategies. The study provides a basis for the development of targeted psychological intervention programs in the school setting.