causes of stress in students

Do you know why children are more prone to stress as compared to adults?

Everyone has faced stress in their life whether it is about academic or work life. Stress is very overwhelming in students that hinders their performance related to education and other activities. 

While stress is a natural phenomenon in a few situations, extreme stress causes students to indulge in bad habits. Stress is caused due to various reasons such as academic pressure, exam failure, parental pressure, career pressure, and so on. 

Stress and anxiety cause students to perform poorly in their exams and class activities as well as affect the mental health of students. 

A good physical health helps students to participate in social activities and enhance a child’s mental health. 

In today’s modern world, children are facing more stress due to social and personal issues that cause them behavioural problems.

What is Stress in Students?

Stress is the social, emotional and physical response to behavioral changes, or it can be defined as the declining of performance due to physical, social and emotional challenges. 

Numerous school students are facing stress due to exams, fear of failure, parental pressures, societal pressure, career tension and so on. This pressure hampers the true potential of students and stops them from achieving lifelong education. 

A nominal stress is a natural part of every human being that works as a motivator, however, extreme stress causes students to take wrong steps in their life, such as doping, alcoholism, hate, suicidal thoughts, and hampers their mental and physical health as well. 

It is necessary for parents and teachers to create a positive learning environment and provide students with proper support and guidance. Give them equal learning opportunities through inclusive education.

Causes of Stress in Students

Stress in students occurs due to various reasons that hinders the potential outcomes of children.

Academic pressure is considered as one of the major reasons for stress among children however, there are other factors too which affect the students performance. 

Stress causes students to have anxiety and depression which leads to serious health issues both physically and mentally. Here you can check what the causes of stress in students are that hinder their true potential.

1. Improper Sleep

Sleep is very important for a sound mind and effective mental health. Improper sleep causes students to develop sleep insomnia, which causes them to perform poorly in class activities.

Most students have developed a late-night habit that causes them to have sleep deprivation. 

Sleep disorder is the main cause of anxiety and stress among students, which hinders their performance. Read more on how many hours of sleep is enough for students here.

2. Academic Pressure

Academic pressure includes exam stress, fear of failure, high expectations, grade competition etc., allowing students to develop stress especially during exam period. 

Most students have to go through academic pressure in their lives.  A few students take this as a high level of anxiety that causes depression and deteriorates their health. 

3. Lack of Family Support

Lack of parental support also causes students to develop stress and anxiety. As young children need support and guidance in every step of their life, whether it is in studies or any other activities. 

Due to a lack of support in their work, they find it difficult to cope with their assignments, which will cause them to have stress and fear. A proper parent-child relationship is essential for overall learner development.

4. Poor Time Management

Time management skills are very necessary for effectiveness. Poor time skills give students too much workload, and they are unable to complete it in time, which causes them to develop aggression and social stress. 

Wasting time and not utilising it wisely causes them to develop disruptive behaviours, and makes it tough for them to do any task with effectiveness.

5. Health Issues

Health issues are also one of the major reasons that cause children to develop stress. Health issues such as insomnia, genetic disorders, neurological factors, depression, disease, etc. Cause them to perform poorly in the classroom activities. 

Due to this reason, they develop fear of social skills and find it tough to set in a collaborative learning environment.

6. Environmental Factors

Environmental factors such as poor infrastructure, noise, bad air quality, and lack of proper physical surroundings cause children to develop stress.

Even gender disparity and teachers’ negligence also hamper students’ participation and make them develop depression and isolation.

7. Bullying 

Bullying is one of the major causes of stress among students, bullying from peers, seniors, and sometimes from teachers makes students indulge in fear and depression. 

Bullying affects children’s mental and physical health due to which they find it difficult to socialize with others and perform poorly in exams.

Bullying also causes students to develop poor relational skills and poor self-esteem. 

Ways to Overcome Students Stress

Overcoming student stress is very important for a positive learning environment, and effective strategies and classroom activities for kids allow them to enhance their cognitive skills. 

Stress management is very important for kids to enhance their learning outcomes. Children can overcome their stress through indulging in various activities and following a healthy and balanced lifestyle. 

Here are the ways through which students can overcome their stress.

1. Mindfulness Exercises

Mindfulness in the classroom help students to enhance their awareness and promote a sound mind.

Mindfulness exercises allow students to promote holistic education, which allows them to effectively enhance their sensory effects. 

Mindfulness exercises allows students to enhance their mental health and helps in effectively managing stress which allows them to cope with it. It is essential for parents to create a supportive and engaging environment for kids. 

Even digital classrooms help students provide personalised learning and enhance their knowledge retention.

2. Make a Routine

A proper schedule is very important for effectiveness and proper time utilisation.

A proper routine allows students to work effectively according to the time which helps in reducing work pressure, which helps in managing stress and anxiety. 

Improper routines cause students to panic in any situation and find it tough to utilise the time. A proper study schedule allows students to cope with the stress and study effectively without any difficulty.

It is important for students to adopt the study routine techniques which helps them to overcome stress.

3. Indulge in Physical Activities 

Physical activities are one of the effective ways to control stress and anxiety. Indulging in physical activities such as daily exercises, cycling, walking, yoga, sports, jogging, swimming, etc. 

Helps in increasing endorphins and dopamine, which helps in increasing the feeling of happiness due to the hormones. You can take help of the top outdoor activities for kids for helping students reduce their stress and the risk of depression. 

4. Avoid Junk Food

Eating nutritious meals helps in promoting good health.

Poor health causes children to advertise effectively due to stress, and eating homemade healthy foods enables students to stay healthy and fit, which also allows them to cope with stress. 

Children must avoid eating junk foods or street foods such as oily food, chips, bakery products, etc.

This causes them to get obese and affects their health badly; due to this, they develop complexes and aggression.

5. Proper Sleep

Proper and sound full sleep is very essential to effectively develop cognitive skills in students.

Improper sleep in students Improper sleep causes students to develop sleep insomnia, which causes them to perform badly in class activities. 

Therefore, it is essential for parents to understand why is a bedtime important for child. 

As most students have developed late. Sleep disorder is the main cause of anxiety and stress among students, which hinders their performance.

Sleeping early and waking early is the best way to reduce stress and mental pressure. As it is essential to understand how many hours of sleep is enough for students.

6. Avoid Smartphone Addiction

Smartphone addiction is the major cause of stress among children, as in today’s world, every second child is addicted to their phones.

Smartphone addiction causes children to have a lack of concentration, behavioural issues, stress, anxiety, depression, etc. 

There are various ways to limit screen time, which helps in avoiding smartphone addiction. This allows students to effectively engage in classroom activities and study sessions.

7. Animal Petting

Another incredible way to reduce stress in students is by playful activities, such as spending time with pets, like cats, dogs, or any domesticated animals like cows, goats, hens, etc.

Petting animals helps students release endorphins, which promotes relaxation among them. 

Petting animals also helps to develop sympathy and allows them to understand other living beings.

This allows students to boost dopamine and helps in reducing stress and depression, and makes students actively engage in field work.

8. Take Medications

Sometimes taking medication helps to control stress and enhances children’s health.

If the stress level is extreme and other methods don’t work it is advisable to visit doctors and take proper medication, which helps them in reducing bad feelings and sufferings. 

However, medications should be taken only if there are some serious issues otherwise sometimes it will affect adverse causes. Proper treatment and therapy are effective ways to reduce stress and health factors. 

9. Listen Music

Listening to music is an incredible way to reduce stress, as music has the ability to enhance cognitive skills. Listening to music can calm the body and mind as well as enhance children’s mental health. 

Soothing, classical and soft music helps in keeping the mind relaxed and active as well as improves children’s mental health.

However, it depends upon every individual which music helps them to stay relaxed and less stressed.

10. Indulge with Friends

Social connections and indulging with friends also help in reducing stress and promoting calmness.

Talking with friends and spending time with them helps to cope with the problem of stress, which allows individuals to effectively enhance their problem-solving skills. 

As isolation causes negative effects on health and due to this childrens feel more depressed, hanging with others helps in coping with the situation.

Common Signs and Symptoms of Stress in Students

Stress can be understood by some signs and symptoms, which also allows us to understand the severity of stress and anxiety. As stress can only be understood by the person themselves, as it is a subjective state of mind. 

Therefore few symptoms help us to analyse stress and depression. Through understanding stress, it can be helpful to overcome it or give proper guidance.

Below, you can check the signs and symptoms of stress in students.

1. Physical Signs: 

Physical signs can be seen from the person’s behaviour, as this includes headaches, dizziness, body pain, loss of weight, stomach ache, sleep insomnia, sweating, muscle pain, fatigue, etc.

These signs help to understand whether the person is under stress or not. 

2. Mental Signs: 

Mental signs can’t be seen or diagnosed as it is a state of a person.

Mental symptoms, anger, lack of concentration, brain fog, mood swings, anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, etc., are a few mental symptoms of stress in students and individuals. These affect students’ mental health.

3. Behavioural Signs: 

Behavioral signs can be understood by the odd acts of an individual; these acts help in understanding the impact of stress.

The behavioral symptoms are nail biting, changing in food habits, alcoholism, smoking, doping, leg shaking, grinding teeth, restlessness, withdrawal symptoms, etc. 

Also Read, Overcoming The Common Behaviour Problems in Schools

4. Emotional Symptoms: 

Emotional signs can be understood by the emotions of a person; these signs can be sadness, depression, anxiety, aggression, mood swings, low enjoyment, etc.

These symptoms help in analysing the stress in students.

Summing Thoughts

Student stress is a complex problem that is impacted by a number of variables, including bullying, environmental factors, health problems, lack of family support, academic pressure and poor time management. 

Parents, teachers and students themselves must all be aware of the causes of stress and how to spot its symptoms.

We can assist students in overcoming obstacles and realizing their full potential by creating a supportive environment and encouraging healthy behaviors.

A proper teaching method and a positive learning environment with peer to peer education helps in promoting development, resilience, and success requires placing a high priority on mental health.

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