High School Stress

More than half of today’s high schoolers are experiencing more stress than adults. Although every high scholar experiences stress at one point of time research is showing that stress levels in an average high schooler are increasing. (Association) In high school it is good to feel challenged but not incapable. Are high schools pushing students to hard?

            An average person would say it is normal for a high schooler to be stressed but this stress can have long term effects on students. According to Colorado Public Radio who recently researched the health effects of students having so much stress before their adult years explains the long term effects. Stress can give students many complications in the future if they aren’t already experiencing them. It’s being shown that this can effect depression, anxiety and other health importance such as a proper metabolism and respiratory system. “A little stress and in moderation can be helpful to high schoolers in so many ways. It motivates them to study, to do better. It helps push them,” says Mary Alvord, a psychologist specializing in teens based in Maryland. “Adolescence is an important time to learn to deal with stress because teens can then deal with it better in college and in their adult lives. But too much stress has many effects on the body and mind” Alvord says. (Ossola)

Not only is stress effecting possible health issues it is changing the mind set of many high schoolers. More than 50% of high schoolers think cheating is okay if that means you get to pass that class. (Borba) Not only that but a poll of 804 teachers revealed that 73% considered school (and life in general) far more stressful for students than in the previous decade, which more than likely contributes to the climbing suicide rate (Borba)

Many students find themselves giving up and say that they often disappoint themselves despite their best efforts. In east coast high schools is was found that 49 percent of students reported feeling “a great deal of stress” and 26% noted that they have been diagnosed with depression. (Ossola) An average stress rate for a teen should be 3.9 out of 10 recent studies have shown that the average stress rate of a teen has now become a 5.8 out of 10. (Association)

High school has created unhealthy stress levels on teens and it is continuing to grow. These stress levels have been shown to often help motivate a teen but with growing rates and higher levels now being shown it is beginning to take a very unhealthy pull on teens. From the health effects to the mental effects teens are truly being effected in the wrong way by high school stress.

 

Works Cited

Association, American Psychology. APA. 11 February 2014. 7 March 2016.

Borba, Michele. Character.org. 21 February 2012. 8 March 2016.

Neighmond, Patti. NPR. 2 December 2013. 7 March 2016.

Ossola, Alexandra. The Atlanic . 9 October 2015. 8 March 2016.