This study was to investigate the degree of parental academic achievement pressure perceived by
middle school students, how parental academic achievement pressure, test anxiety, and depression
would be correlated. Data were collected from 300 first and second graders of public middle schools
located in Gyeonggi Province. Results revealed that the perceptions on parental academic achievement
pressure were significantly higher in boys than girls. Somatic symptoms, a sub-factor of depression
were significantly higher in boys than girls, as well. Positive correlations were found among parental
academic achievement pressure, test anxiety, and depression. This would suggest that the higher
parental academic achievement pressure is, the higher test anxiety and depression are.