School Stress
What Is the Most Stressful Year of School?
While school can cause stress across all years, high school is considered by some to be a uniquely stressful period.
This is because it is a time of great developmental and social change which, on top of the regular demands of school, can be quite difficult to navigate.
Some stress factors that are especially common among high school students are:
- Financial difficulties
- Relocating or changing schools
- Living in an unsafe neighborhood
- Low self-esteem
- Physical changes
- Change in family structure (divorce or death)
- Perfectionism or unreasonably high expectations
- Chronic illness
- Anxiety about future plans
- Difficulty with social relationships
School also presents a variety of demands that can feel difficult to meet. Some possible stress-causing demands are:
- Preparing for quizzes and upcoming tests
- Forming relationships
- Adhering to schedules
- Complying to the requests of teachers
- Completing homework assignments
- Getting good grades
If you feel like this resonates with you as a parent or student please get in touch.
