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Brooke Troy
English 1
Ms. Chiodini
10 May 2019
Wangler
The Effects Of School-Related Stress On Teens

“According to several studies, teens have a higher average stress level than adults” (“Teens

More Stressed”). These stress levels are usually caused by school-related pressure like grades, tests,

excessive homework, and the social pressures associated with high school. These stressors all have

an incredibly negative impact on teens. Left untreated, teens have the highest suicide rates caused

by undiagnosed anxiety and depression. This lack of treatment can cause teens to be less

independent and can also put a strain on their family and home lives. To help, adults can put less

pressure on their teens, teach coping mechanisms for any unavoidable stress, and assure them that

despite what they may think, grades and popularity (or lack thereof) do not define them.

There are many different causes of stress in teens, but the most common are unattainable

expectation. “‘We have to do everything and be perfect for colleges and we have a big workload.

Most of the time we talk about how stressed we are’” (Jayson). There are unattainably high

expectations placed on children from a young age. Not only are they supposed to meet these

unrealistic goals, but they are expected to surpass them. Parents and teachers should be proud of

their children for trying their best, even if trying means they recieve average grades. This is further

shown in a different article. “Many teens worry about meeting academic demands, pleasing

teachers and parents, and keeping up with classmates” (Smith). This quote shows just how

negatively school can impact teens. It is nearly impossible to please everyone. And yet, school

forces teens to put themselves under that intense amount of pressure. The strain of this pressure can
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be too much, and can cause anxiety or further worsen an existing case. These are just a couple

examples of how stress can trigger and have a very negative impact on the teen psyche.

Stress has a hugely negative effect on teens. Among these effects is anxiety disorder. This

is shown in an article published by NPR. “Chronic stress can cause a sense of panic and

paralysis… the child feels stuck, which only adds to the feeling of stress” (Greaves). Stress can

physically manifest in teenagers, causing sometimes severe panic attacks. This can impact their

grades, causing further stress, which leads into a vicious cycle of suffering, all caused by one late

assignment. However, anxiety is not the only mental illness caused by stress. “Colleges are seeing

a generation of students who appear to be manifesting increased signs of depression, anxiety,

perfectionism, and stress” (Kam). Mental illness in young adults is hugely caused by stress. By the

time students have to prepare for college, they have often developed a case of chronic stress from

past assignments or traumas. College preparations often worsen that stress, leading to depression

and other mental illnesses. Though stress can do all-too-real harm, there are a few possible

solutions.

The issue of chronic stress is not an unsolvable one. For example, “Remind your child

about his strengths and the strides he's already made. Talk about resilience and his ability to use

past failures to actually move forward” (The Understood Team). Parents can encourage their

children by reminding them of all they can do. This helps the teenager feel better about themself,

positively affecting their mental health. Additionally, “Even if it’s just one person- even if it’s a

coach, or a counselor, or an aunt or uncle or grandparent or teacher- whoever that person is that

you can really trust, who can be a source of a really healthy relationship for you, especially in the

teen years, is so critical” (Corcione). Having trustworthy adults is imperative to the social
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development of a teenager. Positive and caring influences can have a huge effect on teens,

changing their mindset for the better.

Despite what many people may think, teens are often more stressed out than adults. Several

studies have shown that this stress can lead to severe cases of depression and anxiety. Often times,

the stress is related to school; social pressures, the need to get “good” grades, and trying to impress

peers and authority figures are all large triggers of this stress. With more visibility and more people

being aware of the issue, more solutions will come out, and hopefully the annual rate of stress in

teenagers will lower to a safe rate.

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Works Cited

“5 Stress Factors for High-Schoolers With Learning and Attention Issues.” Understood.
Understood USA, LLC. N.D. Web. 1 May 2019.

Damour, Lisa. “How to Help Teenagers Embrace Stress.” The New York Times. The New York
Times Company, LLC. 19 Sept. 2018. Web. 1 May 2019.

Jayson, Sharon. “Teens feeling stressed, and many not managing it well.” USA Today. Gannett
Satellite Information Network, LLC. 11 Feb. 2014. Web. 1 May 2019.

Kam, Katherine. “Coping With School Stress.” WebMD. WebMD, LLC. N.D. Web. 1 May 2019.

Ortiz, Lydia. “How Trauma Impacts Your Body.” Teen Vogue. Condé Nast, LLC. 12 Feb. 2019.
Web. 1 May 2019.

Neighmond, Patti. “School Stress Takes A Toll On Health, Teens And Parents Say.” NPR.
National Public Radio, LLC. 2 Dec. 2013. Web. 1 May 2019.

Smith, Kathleen. “6 Common Triggers of Teen Stress.” Psycom. Vertical Health, LLC. 25 Nov.
2018. Web. 1 May 2019.

“Teens More Stressed-Out Than Adults, Survey Says.” NBC News. NBC News, LLC. 11 Feb.
2014. Web. 1 May 2019.