<p>This study investigates the moderating role of leisure attitude and the conditional effect of gender in the relationship between perceived stress and exam anxiety among adolescents. Grounded in the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, the research focuses on adolescents aged 14–17 in Turkey. Data were collected from 315 participants using validated self-report scales measuring perceived stress, exam anxiety, and leisure attitude. Findings confirm a significant positive association between perceived stress and exam anxiety. Importantly, leisure attitude was found to moderate this relationship, with distinct gender-based differences. For females, a positive leisure attitude reduced the impact of perceived stress on exam anxiety, indicating a protective role. In contrast, for males, the relationship between stress and anxiety became stronger in the presence of higher leisure attitude, suggesting different coping patterns and leisure perceptions across genders. This study contributes to the literature by identifying leisure attitude as a context-dependent psychological resource that does not operate uniformly but is shaped by gendered coping styles. The results emphasize the need for gender-sensitive interventions that promote adaptive leisure attitudes as part of school-based mental health programs. These findings provide new theoretical and empirical insights into adolescent stress regulation and offer practical guidance for educators, psychologists, and policymakers aiming to improve academic and emotional outcomes through leisure-oriented strategies.</p>