Causes and Effects

There are many reasons why students are struggling to maintain good mental health and wellbeing. Students of all ages encounter issues that could negatively impact their happiness and worldview. The problems that I discuss on this webpage include pressure induced by grades, feeling out of place because of loneliness, and feeling overwhelmed because of extracurricular activities.

Stress caused by grades and deadlines has the power to affect student happiness, therefore making it harder to learn. In my experience, worrying about outcomes have pulled me away from enjoying the learning process. Students who solely focus on grades neglect the importance of understanding concepts, and are more likely to develop mental health issues over time. In fact, “A new study finds that when students experience an academic setback such as a bad grade, the amount of cortisol—the so-called stress hormone—in their bodies typically spikes” (Terada). Students who are pressured to receive perfect grades are more susceptible to stress.

Students who feel socially out of place are less likely to have people who support them. People who feel isolated are more likely to hide their emotions instead of embracing and working through them. In addition, a lack of friends can lead to unhappiness, which is proven to affect the speed at which students learn.

Activities outside of school can also affect student wellbeing. For example, student athletes who train for hours every day struggle to find time to complete their homework. This can lead to a lot of stress. During moments where students are overwhelmed, teachers need to be understanding and supportive to ensure that everyone has access to the resources they deserve.

These are some of the causes and effects of poor wellbeing in students. Each child is different and it is important that schools recognize this fact and supportively push students to learn.

Works Cited

Bates, M. & Boren, D. M. (2019). Assessing Wellbeing in Schools. EdTech Books. https://edtechbooks.org/wellbeing

Hossain, Saira et al. "What Constitutes Student Well-Being: A Scoping Review Of Students' Perspectives." Child indicators research vol. 16,2 (2023): 447-483. doi:10.1007/s12187-022-09990-w

Terada, Youki. "The Science Behind Student Stress." Edutopia, 24 Aug. 2018, www.edutopia.org/article/science-behind-student-stress/#:~:text=A%20new%20study%20finds%20that,for%20some%20it%20stays%20high. Accessed 18 July 2024.