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What Are the Causes of Stress at School?

A common misconception is that stress only affects older teens and adults. Yet studies have found that students of all ages experience some degree of stress when attending school. From separation anxiety in preschoolers---leaving their mother for the first time---to time management issues in college students trying to juggle classes and a job, there are many causes for stress in school.

  1. Peer Pressure

    • Peer pressure can be stressful for children of all ages as they strive to be accepted by others. Children are often judged by the clothes they wear and the activities they participate in, therefore it becomes important to have the most stylish fashions and to be part of the most popular cliques in school. For some children, stress develops when financial constraints or personality differences prevent them from meeting these expectations, according to almightydad.com. Sometimes peer pressure can lead to participation in negative activities such as drugs, alcohol or sexual activities to fill the need to fit in with others.

    Academics

    • Parents, teachers and coaches tend to have high expectation for today's youth. Children are expected to keep their grades up and, in some areas, even pass state mandated tests to be promoted to the next grade. For some children, this task is difficult as they struggle to complete work that is too challenging for them and therefore causes worry that they will disappoint adults in their life if they can't keep up with or exceed these expectations. Other children may find it stressful to attend school where work does not challenge them enough. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that parents be aware of the expectations they are setting and allow children a healthy balance of academics and extracurricular activities to eleviate stress and maintain healthy development.

    Relationship & Family Issues

    • Friendships and romantic relationships often develop among children as they attend school together. Every relationship will suffer times of trouble when disagreements or other problems arise. Sometimes when a relationship is on rocky ground, children find it hard to attend school where they have to be reminded of those problems. According to Kids Health, family issues such as divorce, illness or death of a loved one can make it hard for children to function at school, making stressful situations as they try to cope. Children can often become depressed or withdrawn during times like these.

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