The Science of Stress: Understanding Stress and Its Effects on Students

Stress is a common experience that affects everyone at some point in life. It is a natural response to situations that require adaptation, and adjustment, especially in the context of  sudden, unexpected changes. 

And contrary to popular belief, stress is not all bad. Some amount of stress is good for adults and students alike. In students, it helps them stay on track with classes and coursework. It acts as a motivating force when the distractions are many.

However, chronic or long-term stress can have negative impacts on health, especially for students who face stress regularly. This can interfere with their academic performance, mental health, and overall well-being. In this article, we will explore the science of stress, understand its effects on students, and explore practical ways to manage stress.

What is stress and what is the cause of stress in students?

Parents and teachers tend to mistakenly take a casual stance when young people complain of stress. The underlying tone implies, “What do you have to be stressed about?” 

From a parent’s perspective, this may be a legitimate question. After all, the children need not worry about fiscal responsibilities, adult relationship issues, and responsibilities to other people in their lives. 

But, sadly, the reality is quite different from this.

High School students experience an incredible amount of pressure resulting from physiological changes, academic pressures, the uncertainty associated with making the right choices when it comes to higher education, and stress related to relationships and body image issues. 

During the last two years, this was further complicated by the stress caused by the pandemic and social isolation. While life has returned to a certain level of normalcy after the pandemic, it does not automatically negate the stress children experience.

According to a study conducted by “Americal Psychological Association”, ??for teens, dubbed Generation Z (Gen Z), the long-term effects of the pandemic's ongoing stress and anguish could be extremely devastating (Gen Z). They say,

“Our 2020 survey shows that Gen Z teens (ages 13-17) and Gen Z adults (ages 18-23) are facing unprecedented uncertainty, are experiencing elevated stress, and are already reporting symptoms of depression.”

Understanding stress

Stress refers to a psychological and physiological response to an internal or external stimulus perceived as a threat or a challenge. Hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, are released when experiencing stress, triggering the fight-or-flight response. This prepares the body to respond to the challenge by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate while releasing glucose into the bloodstream to provide energy.

There are three main types of stress: acute, episodic acute, and chronic stress. 

• Acute stress is short-term stress caused by sudden and unexpected events. 
• Episodic acute stress is a pattern of repeated acute stress caused by tendencies to worry or manage daily responsibilities. 
• Chronic stress is long-term stress that persists over a prolonged period.

How can we recognize stress in high school students? The questions given below are good indicators for assessing the stress levels of students.

• Is the child agitated or anxious or short-tempered?
• Does she fall sick more often?
• Are there more complaints of headaches/stomach pains, etc?
• Is your child appearing to be more lethargic?
• Do they complain about not getting enough sleep?
• Do they show erratic eating behaviour - from not eating at all to over-eating?
• Is there a higher incidence of forgetfulness or lack of interest in hobbies?

All these could be signals that something is wrong. If you find anything that is of concern, do not hesitate to get professional help. It is always better to be safe.

How to deal with stress?

Too much-unresolved stress can lead to physical and mental health issues. While your child may not suffer from chronic stress, it is always a good idea to equip them with tools that they can use at any point in life.

• Journaling: One of the highly recommended ways to deal with stress in your daily life is through journaling. Freely documenting your thoughts and emotions helps reduce the severity of emotions and allows them to be processed better. It also provides clarity of thought.
• Physical Exercise: In the olden days, children spent an hour or so playing with other neighbourhood kids, soon after school. These days that is an increasingly rare sight. Hence children should be encouraged to pursue a physically challenging activity daily. This can be a team sport or individual activity like swimming, running, yoga, etc
• Breathing techniques: The breathing techniques taught as part of yoga practice has immense value in improving the quality of life. If you do not have access to a yoga teacher, there are various training sessions available for guided breathing. A few sessions will equip anyone to manage stress with the right breathing technique.
• Volunteering: To be of service increases one’s self-worth and gives immense sense of purpose; additionally it also changes one’s perspective and helps to manage stress and other tensions.
• Counseling: All the above-mentioned tools are good but if you feel that none of these are helping your child, do not hesitate to get professional help.

In conclusion

Stress may often disappear once the external trigger causing it goes away. But issues caused by trauma and big life changes create an impact that we may not see immediately. Please consult a doctor and get the required treatment for your child so that they can face life in the best possible way.

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