Student Stress At a Glance

Students are under pressure from teachers, parents, and college admissions counselors to maintain high grade point averages, score well on high-stakes tests, participate in a variety of extracurricular activities, and gain admission to top colleges. In fact, surveys have found that most students identify academic pressure as the main reason for their stress. While it has long been assumed that struggling students are most prone to academic stress, recent studies indicate that high achievers are especially vulnerable to school-related stress. This Information Capsule summarizes the consequences of chronic school-related stress, including decreases in academic performance, frequent physical illnesses, and cheating. Causes of school-related stress, such as overly demanding academic content, overbooked schedules, and pressure to maintain high grades and gain acceptance to prestigious colleges, are also reviewed. Finally, strategies designed to help schools, parents, and students alleviate school-related stress are presented. Researchers have recently called attention to high levels of student stress in our nation’s schools. Studies show that students are under pressure from teachers, parents, and college admissions counselors to maintain high grade point averages, score well on high-stakes tests, participate in a variety o