Genius Hour Research

Stress:
A way that our body responds to the demands made upon us by the environment, our
relationships, and our perceptions and interpretations of those demands

Eustress (Good stress)

o small amounts of stress
o results in feeling energized and motivated to do your best work
o encourages to develop effective coping strategies
When the circumstances are overwhelming and stress is no longer tolerable or
manageable, bad stress can come into play
Distress (Bad stress)
o stress becomes too much to bear
o inability to cope with stress
o seems to be no relief
o extreme or long-term
o wears down your body
Everyones perception and reaction to stress is different.

Causes of Stress in teenagers

o At School
unstructured classroom
fear of failure
stress and anxiety from grades/ tests & quizzes/ finals/ GPA/
college
parent expectations to do well in school
procrastination; not reaching deadlines/due dates
feeling unprepared
o At Home
lack of family routines
over-scheduling
changes in family situations (ex. divorce or death of a loved one)
parent expectations
lack of sleep
poof nutrition/ prolonged, serious illness
family abuse
o Peer-related/Social Life
changing schools/moving to a new community
dealing with bullies
trying to fit in with the crowd
friends, boyfriends/girlfriends
relationships

extracurricular activities/ tryouts; auditions

Symptoms of Stress
o Cognitive
memory problems
anxiety
inability to concentrate
poor judgment
focusing on the negative
constant worrying
o Physical
headaches or stomachaches
diarrhea or constipation
nausea
dizziness
chest pain, increased heartbeat
frequent colds
o Emotional
moodiness
irritability
agitations
feeling overwhelmed
depression or general unhappiness
sense of loneliness
o Behavioral
isolation from family activities or peer relationships
drug or alcohol experimentation
sleeping too much or too little
procrastinating/ neglecting responsibilities
drug or alcohol experimentation- used to relax
nervous habits
Preventing Stress
o positive coping skills
o strong family/friend support system
o exercise & good nutrition
o find time to relax
o ability to learn from mistakes
o plenty sleep & rest
o avoid drugs and alcohol
o feeling physically and emotionally safe

The solution is to adapt, change, and find methods to turn that bad stress into good
stress.

Sources
http://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/Facts_for_Families_
Pages/Helping_Teenagers_With_Stress_66.aspx
http://www.pamf.org/teen/life/stress/7stresstips.html
http://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/stress-symptoms-causes-and-effects.htm
http://www.pamf.org/teen/life/stress/whatstress.html
http://www.nasponline.org/families/stress.pdf