7 Causes of Stress in School Students (+ How To Help)

Between preparing for exams and juggling extracurricular activities, it's no wonder that school stress levels are on the rise.

In Singapore, this stress and anxiety might just be worse. With the recent release of the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) results, which showed that Singapore students are some of the most stressed in the world, it's clear that something needs to be done.

So what are the top causes of stress among school students? Here are seven of them, along with some tips on how parents can help (including enrolling in O-level physics tuition) their children deal with stress.

1. Academic pressure

The increasing competition to get into good schools and universities has placed great pressure on students to succeed academically. This pressure can manifest itself in different ways, such as feeling anxious about tests or worrying about getting good grades.

While every student worries about their grades from time to time, some might start to feel overwhelmed by the pressure. This can lead to them feeling stressed and anxious, which can, in turn, affect their ability to focus and do well in school.

Some signs that your child is feeling overwhelmed by academic pressure include:

• Withdrawing from friends and activities they normally enjoy
• Complaining of physical symptoms such as headaches or stomachaches
• Having trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
• Losing interest in school

How can parents help?

The best way to help your child deal with academic stress is to talk to them about it. Ask them how they're feeling and if there's anything you can do to help.

You can also help by teaching them stress management techniques, such as deep breathing or visualization. And if they're struggling with a particular subject, you can look into enrolling them in a tuition center like Learning for Keeps.

2. Falling behind on schoolwork

Another common cause of stress among students is falling behind on their schoolwork. This can happen for various reasons, such as missed classes due to illness, not understanding the material, or simply having too much work to catch up on.

Falling behind on schoolwork can also be because they're not grasping the lessons as quickly as their classmates. Some signs that your child is struggling to keep up with their schoolwork include:

• Missing homework deadlines
• Constantly coming home with low grades
• Feeling overwhelmed or stressed when talking about school

How can parents help?

If your child is struggling to keep up with their schoolwork, the best thing you can do is talk to their teacher. They'll be able to give you more insight into what's going on and how you can help your child catch up.

Most of the time, if your child is falling behind in, say, physics, enrolling them in a physics tuition center can help.

A good tutor can break down the concepts in a way that's easy for your child to understand. Check out these 8 Benefits of One-on-One Tutoring for Struggling Students.

3. Extracurricular activities

You might think that extracurricular activities would be a good way for your child to relieve stress, but for some students, they can add to it. This is because some students feel pressure to excel in these activities in addition to their academics.

Your child might also be stretched thin if they're trying to do too many things at once. Think about it – if they're already struggling to keep up with their schoolwork, adding another activity into the mix will only worsen things.

Some signs that your child is feeling stressed from their extracurricular activities include:

• Becoming withdrawn or irritable
• Losing interest in the activity
• Avoiding friends who are also involved in the activity

How can parents help?

If you think your child is taking on too much, sit down with them and talk about it. Help them determine which activities are a priority and which ones they can let go of.

Encourage them to take breaks and, if necessary, talk to the coach or activity leader about reducing their commitment.

4. Social stress

For some students, stress doesn't come from academics or extracurriculars – it comes from social interactions. This can be anything from feeling left out by their friends to being bullied at school.

This is one of the most common stressors for kids in middle and high school. And it can be tough for parents to know how to help because social stress is tricky.

Some signs that your child is feeling social stress include:

• Not wanting to go to school or participate in activities
• Becoming withdrawn or isolated
• Losing interest in friends or hobbies

How can parents help?

If you think your child is struggling with social stress, the best thing you can do is talk to them about it. Ask them how they're feeling and see if there's anything you can do to help.

Observe their interactions with their peers and see if there's anything you can do to help them make friends. You can also talk to their teacher or school counselor about the situation.

5. Pressure to succeed

Once children reach upper secondary school, the pressure to succeed starts ramping up. This is because they need to start thinking about their future – what kind of colleges they want to apply to, what kind of careers they're interested in, etc.

The O-levels and A-level exams are also a source of stress for many students. The pressure to do well in these exams can be overwhelming, especially if your child wants to get into a good college.

Some signs that your child is feeling pressure to succeed include:

• Obsessive perfectionism
• Procrastination
• Anxiety or depression

How can parents help?

Sit down with your child and talk about their goals and aspirations. See if there's anything you can do to help them achieve these goals.

Encourage them to take breaks and remind them that it's okay if they don't get into their first choice college.

There are plenty of other options out there. Bring up the option of attending an O-level tuition center like Learning for Keeps or hiring a private tutor if they struggle with their O-level academics. Check out How To Prepare for O Level Exams in 5 Steps for more info.

6. Financial stress

Not all students come from wealthy families. In fact, a lot of students have to worry about things like affording tuition, paying for books and materials, and having enough money for food and transportation.

This stress can be even more pronounced if your child is working while they're attending school. They might be worried about making ends meet or maintaining a good GPA.

Some signs that your child is feeling financial stress include:

• Asking for money all the time
• Not being able to pay for school supplies or activities
• Missing class because they can't afford transportation

How can parents help?

If you think your child is struggling with financial stress, talk to them about it. See if there's anything you can do to help, like getting a part-time job or finding scholarships and financial aid.

You can also talk to their school counselor about the situation. They might be able to offer advice or connect your child with resources that can help.

7. Family stress

Look honestly at your family's dynamic. Are you and your partner always fighting? Is there a lot of stress in the home? Do you have a chaotic household?

If so, it's no wonder your child is stressed out. Family stress can be incredibly detrimental to a child's mental and emotional well-being.

Some signs that your child is feeling family stress include:

• Withdrawing from family members
• Acting out in school or at home
• Isolating themselves

How can parents help?

If you think your child is struggling with family stress, the best thing you can do is talk to them about it. See if there's anything you can do to help make the situation better.

You might also want to consider seeking out family counseling or therapy. This can help you and your family learn how to communicate and deal with stress more healthily.

Conclusion

Students are under a lot of stress these days. From academic pressure to family stress, many different factors can contribute to stress in school students.

As a parent, the best thing you can do is talk to your child about their stressors and see if there's anything you can do to help. Remember, you're not alone in this – there are plenty of resources and people who can help you and your child deal with stress.