De-stressing Teens: Dealing with the Stress Pandemic Among Students
De-stressing Teens: Dealing with the Stress Pandemic Among Students
Understanding Stress Among Teens and How to Deal with It.
Media reports in the last few years illustrate a high prevalence of stress among American teens.
Being stressed all the time for teens is standard if one looks at it from a general life perspective, with many teens engaging in sports, co-curricular activities, schoolwork, and hobbies while juggling part-time work for some and other responsibilities for others.
Today's stress levels are not akin to those experienced by teens decades ago. Something must have shifted in the environment, and the triggers caused a significant stress load across different American teen demographics.
Undoubtedly, the digital age has brought forth a plethora of stressors, leaving our youth vulnerable to emotional turmoil. Addressing the issue as an urgent matter is essential. This article argues in favor of stakeholders seeking to improve the understanding of stressors and how well to align teen expectations and capabilities in their lives. Exploring the causes of stress among teens, highlighting the role of teachers and instructors in supporting them, and presenting persuasive arguments can pave the way for a healthier, more balanced future.
American Teen Stress and Causal Factors
The APA survey of teens in America continues to show higher mental health challenges, exceptionally high depression, and anxiety among teens. In 2019, a report by a San Diego University professor on young adults' mental health showed that young adults and teens experienced higher levels of stress than usual and that the trend showed an increase from 2005 to 2017 (Divecha, 2019).
The Pew Research Center report by Horowitz and Graf (2019) also confirms that teens face heightened levels of anxiety and depression. Seven in ten teens present these problems as significant mental health issues. The distribution of the problem appears to override other demographic factors, including gender, race, socio-economic status, and residence. The traditionally associated teen problems like bullying, drug addiction, and alcohol consumption remain alarmingly high, but their upward trend has not been as significant as increased stress.
One of the factors leading to teen stress is the pressure they face in society, especially in the digital age, and through performance or appearance expectations. Sixty-one percent of teens said they felt much pressure if they did not get good grades (Horowitz & Graf, 2019). Others also consider that looking good is a pressure source.
Teens depend on peer review and approvals to confirm that they look good. Digital tools such as social media are making even minor details in one's life blow up and reach large audiences, unlike in the past (Divecha, 2019). Therefore, they adhere to social settings and standards that can be in their favor or may be fleeting to achieve.
Meanwhile, contemporary problems teenage associate with rebellion against the norms, such as the uptake of harmful habits, also lead to increased difficulty coping with consequences. For example, teens with drug and alcohol addiction are also likely to get into other problems, leading them to face increased pressure. Others feel personally pressured to use drugs and to take alcohol.
The Pew Research Center also reports that girls are likelier to plan to go to collect, never get in trouble while in school, and feel much pressure to look good. Girls are also more likely to feel tense and nervous each day and to be excited when something they study at school is in their favor or according to their expectations.
Besides the binary genders, white teens and LGBT teens face higher levels of feeling persistently hopeless and sad. The disproportionate distribution of these mental challenges is worth noting when conceiving an appropriate intervention (Thompson, 2022). The suggestion is that tackling the teen's set up in life and their perception about it can help. Thus, improving self-concept and self-efficacy should be among the first steps considered when seeking to offer a solution to the problem of stressed teens.
Possible De-Stressing Solutions
Several strategies are recommended for de-stressing American teens, as follows. Educators need empowerment. Teachers and instructors have a unique opportunity to alleviate the stress burden on their students. Recognizing the signs of stress and implementing supportive measures can create a conducive learning environment. Incorporating stress management techniques into the curriculum, promoting open dialogue, and offering accessible resources can help students develop resilience and coping mechanisms.
Secondly, there is a need to equip teens with emotional intelligence to improve their capability to use cognitive behavior therapy approaches to cope with their life pressures, which are unique for the adolescent stage of development. Emotional intelligence and hardiness programs would give teens the tools to understand and regulate their emotions, resolve conflicts peacefully, and build healthy relationships (Dhillon & Mehra, 2019).
Equipping teens with emotional intelligence skills empowers them to navigate stressors more confidently. Schools would be the best target for the intervention as schools bring together teens from different backgrounds and provide a relatable space where teens should be free to interact with support systems, including peers, teachers, and mental health practitioners.
Public campaigns for balancing approaches to academic and other performance-oriented obligations for teens are also important. While academic excellence is essential, a balanced approach is crucial for stress reduction (Thompson, 2022). Increased mention of pressures as a reason for stress implies that lowering pressure concerns may work as a sustainable means of limiting teens' mental health challenges.
All stakeholders, especially parents, and mentors, need to find ways to offer advice and encourage competition, creativity, and expression without making situations a win-or-lose affair. Moreover, creating a supportive environment for American teens is crucial in their journey to de-stress. Schools should establish peer support groups where students can connect with others facing similar challenges (Gurusathya, 2019).
Additionally, involving parents and families in the process is vital. Regular communication channels, parent-teacher meetings, and workshops can foster a collaborative approach to supporting teens. Building a solid support network empowers teens to share their concerns and seek assistance when needed.
The other notable way of de-stressing is to encourage help-seeking behavior, which would come if there was awareness about the stigmatization of teen stress.
Reducing the stigma would let more teens understand their problem to be a known and appreciated concern, which can open them up to receiving help through primary health care early before they get chronic stress levels. Educational campaigns and awareness programs can help dispel myths and misconceptions, encouraging open conversations about mental health (Thompson, 2022).
Promoting a culture of understanding and empathy will help practitioners to create a safe space for teens to seek help without fear of judgment. Integrating mental health literacy into health education classes can also foster a more compassionate and informed society.
Encouraging the uptake of de-stressing activities would be the way forward. Such activities should not be presented as mandatory and campaigned for in an unfriendly way because such an approach will alienate more teens and may even create additional pressure.
Instead, working with teens to pick activities they love to try and then organizing the time and resources within the capabilities of the teens, their families, and their schools or other affiliate institutions will make such interventions sustainable (Gurusathya, 2019). In many cases, each teen faces unique challenges, and it will be necessary to also break down the teen category into subgroups such as immigrants, minorities, and different gendered teens.
Final Thoughts
In a nutshell, promoting de-stressing activities tailored to the interests and capabilities of each teen is crucial. Involving teens in the decision-making process and ensuring activities are accessible and enjoyable can create sustainable interventions that cater to their unique needs.
De-stressing American teens requires a multifaceted approach that involves schools, parents, and society as a whole. Prioritizing mental health in schools, enhancing support systems, reducing academic pressure, promoting healthy lifestyle habits, and raising awareness about mental health can create an environment where teens can thrive.
Mental health practitioners, educators, and other stakeholders working with teens are responsible for providing the necessary tools and resources to empower teens in their journey toward well-being and success.
Let us stand united in our efforts to de-stress the American teen, allowing them to embrace their full potential and lead fulfilling lives.
References
Dhillon, R., & Mehra, N. (2019). Hardiness as a moderator in the relationship between emotional autonomy and depression among adolescents.Ā Pakistan Journal of Psychological Research,Ā 34(2), 299-309.
Divecha, D. (2019). Our teens are more stressed than ever: Why, and what can you do about it? Developmental Science. https://www.developmentalscience.com/blog/2019/5/7/our-teens-are-more-stressed-than-ever
Gurusathya, C. (2019). Dance as a catalyst for stress busting.Ā Central European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine,Ā 26(2), 15-29., C. (2019). Dance as a catalyst for stress busting.Ā Central European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine,Ā 26(2), 15-29.
Horowitz, J. M., & Graf, N. (2019). Most U.S.Ā teens see anxiety and depression as a major problem among their peers. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2019/02/20/most-u-s-teens-see-anxiety-and-depression-as-a-major-problem-among-their-peers/
Thompson, D. (2022). Why are American teens so sad? The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/04/american-teens-sadness-depression-anxiety/629524/