Research
Stress Decreases Sleep Quality
There is a link between stress levels and poor sleep. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 70 percent of those who report persistent stress have trouble sleeping. The National Sleep Foundation reports that teens need at least eight hours of sleep to function at peak performance, yet only about 15 percent of teens get an adequate amount. Poor sleep makes stress management more difficult while also negatively impacting concentration, learning, listening, memory, and problem-solving.
Stress Makes Students Angrier
Stress may be the culprit of students who are prone to bullying others. The Mayo Clinic reports stress increases feelings of irritability and anger, which increases the likelihood of angry outbursts and social withdrawal. Besides directing anger at other students, students who are stressed may be resistant to following school guidelines and respectfully engaging with instructors. They may also exhibit disrespectful behavior online. Their focus on anger may cause overall work to suffer.
Stress Worsens Grades
When a student is stressed and preoccupied, it takes over their ability to focus during lectures or studying. Stress may even cause students to drop classes or even drop out of school. The 2010 American College Health Association National College Health Assessment reported that more than 25 percent of students say that stress lowered their grades or ability to finish a course. For students experiencing stress at home, attending to schoolwork may not be a top priority. As research shows, stress exhibited by instructors directly increases the stress levels of students while in the classroom. Stressors may pop up at any moment to disrupt learning and concentration.
Educators need to recognize the significant impact stress has on teens and young adults, and work to create a supportive and calm educational environment. School administrators who want their students to succeed academically should conduct regular check-ins with students and direct students to counselors and mental health programs when necessary and educate families about the negative impact of stress on students.
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Seniors being either accepted or rejected into college plays a part of the reason why students become more stressed.
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The American Institute of Stress (AIS) said that incoming freshmen are becoming increasingly more aware of the stress college brings because of the rigorous application process. Despite this awareness, these students are not necessarily given healthy coping methods for managing stress.
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3 out of 4 college students state that they are depressed, many state that they have suicidal thoughts.
30%
The percentage rise in students seeking appointments at counseling centers between 2009–10 and 2014–15, even though student enrollment grew by only 5 percent during that time, according to a survey of 139 college and university counseling centers. That's likely because of the success of public education campaigns and other efforts to identify at-risk students and refer them to counseling, according to the report.
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Harvard Health Publishing confirms that a majority of college students struggle with anxiety. According to the American College Health Association Fall 2018 National College Health Assessment, 63% of college students in the US felt overwhelming fear in the past year.
