A student life can be very difficult and stressful. The pressure from the people around, assignments, the academic workload, joining organizations, having a social life can be factors that will make or break the stressful student life.
However, as stated by Herbert and Allen 1980 in their research it shows that an average amount of stress can be helpful to students because it increases attention and interest that may be a catalyst for students to do well in school. With that, too much stress can be destructive that can affect one’s well-being. According to the Journal of Affective Disorder Reports, 8.9% of young adults aged 15 to 24 in the Philippines report having moderate to severe depressive symptoms. This age group mostly consists of students.
Pascoe (2019) states that chronic stress can decrease motivation, worsen academic performance, and raise the risk of dropping out of school. Therefore, in order to properly handle the stress of daily school life, both students and teachers need to be aware of the triggers and what they can do about them.
WHAT CAUSES STRESS TO STUDENTS?
ACADEMIC WORKLOAD
With the current academic situation, the online classes setup is not everybody’s favorite. Since students are studying from their homes, it can be isolating. The academic viewpoint of taking classes online can occasionally result in students devoting their time to their studies, substantially increasing their burden. Every student’s situation is different, hence they can only do so much with their capability and resources.
Heavy workload comes with many assignments and when students have too many assignments, it can lead to burnout, less active learning, overwhelm, and a lack of commitment to their other duties. The heavy workload can be overwhelming and causes too much stress.
PARENTAL PRESSURE
This is more for parents than students. According to studies from the American Psychological Association, children tend to perform better in school when parents have realistic expectations for their academic accomplishments. High or unrealistic expectations set for children hinder their learning and their mental health which may cause them to not do well in school. According to the International Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Sixty-six percent of students said parental pressure was a significant source of stress.
Parents who set high school expectations for their children can improve their grades, but putting too much pressure on their children to consistently meet those expectations negatively impacts their overall well-being and performance.
When parents expect too much academic satisfaction from their children, and to please them they might resort to cheating. Mofatteh (2021) found that cheating leads to sleep deprivation, low self-esteem, fear of failure that consequently increases stress and anxiety.
HOW TO COPE UP
EXERCISE
An exercise program also plays a big role in reducing stress. Exercise increases endorphins, making you feel happier, more relaxed, and more fulfilled. Go for a jog, swim, or take a long walk. Fortunately, it doesn't matter what kind of exercise you do. Anything that makes your heart beat faster can help reduce stress in your daily life.
SLEEP
Sleep and mood are closely related. So when we are tired, we see our surroundings more negatively. Students who regularly report better sleep quality have been found to do better in school.
Set a regular bedtime, as irregular bedtimes can negatively affect sleep quality and make her feel tired and light-headed, even if she slept eight hours. Adhering to a sleep schedule has been found to have the most positive impact on academic performance.
PRIORITIZE
When you're under a deadline, you don't know where to start. This can make you feel overwhelmed and even more stressed. Schedule a review session or make a to-do list of all the tasks that need to be completed, how long you plan to complete them, and the due dates. This will help you better organize your time.
Research shows that effective time management is a powerful mediator of stress and is positively correlated with better student academic performance (Macan & Shahani 1980). Planning what you need to do on paper helps organize your thoughts and provides direction on where to start.
Being a student is hard. When you're stressed, the "fight or flight" response can kick in and cause your body to shut down.
Homework, lack of sleep, overworked schedules, and parental pressure all play a role in developing chronic stress problems. This can have a negative impact not only on school performance, but also on physical and mental health.
However, by changing the way students think, managing their time effectively, and encouraging them to develop good habits, students can reduce much of the stress they experience on a daily basis and enjoy the rest of their time at school. I can.
REFERENCES
Benson H, Allen RL. How much stress is too much? Harvard Business Review. 1980 Sep-Oct;58(5):86-92. PMID: 10247959.
Puyat, J. H., Gastardo-Conaco, M. C., Natividad, J., & Banal, M. A. (2021). Depressive symptoms among young adults in the Philippines: Results from a nationwide cross-sectional survey. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, 3, 100073. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadr.2020.100073
Deb, S., Strodl, E., & Sun, J. (n.d.). Academic stress, parental pressure, anxiety and mental health among Indian high school students. International Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences. Retrieved September 27, 2022, from http://article.sapub.org/10.5923.j.ijpbs.20150501.04.html
Macan, T. H., Shahani, C., Dipboye, R. L., & Phillips, A. P. (1990). College students' time management: Correlations with academic performance and stress. Journal of Educational Psychology, 82(4), 760–768. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.82.4.760
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