فصلنامه روانشناسی شناختی

This study examined the moderating effect of cultural and sex differences on the relationship between appraisal processes with academic stress among male and female Iranian and Swedish university students. On a sample consisting of 212 students [112 Iranian (male 32 and female 78) 100 Swedish (male 29 and female 71)] were administrated the primary and secondary appraisal processes and Academic Stress Questionnaire. The results of multiple regression model showed significant positive relationship between primary appraisal and academic stress among Iranian students and nonsignificant positive relationship between primary appraisal and academic stress among Swedish students. Results also indicated that there was a significant negative correlation between secondary appraisal and academic stress among Iranian and Swedish students. Results also showed that there was a nonsignificant positive relationship between primary appraisal and academic stress and a significant negative relationship between secondary appraisal and academic stress among both sexes. Therefore, the relationship between primary and secondary appraisals and academic stress by sex was not moderated. In sum, these findings emphasize that for the purpose of prediction of academic stress the functional properties of primary appraisal were dissimilar and the functional properties of secondary appraisal were similar in two cultural contexts and the functional properties primary and secondary appraisals were similar in tow sex groups.