Addressing the common causes of stress in students

Student well-being is an increasing concern in K-12 education. A study by the American Psychological Association (APA) confirms that teens are experiencing extreme stress during the school year. With stress levels at an all-time high, the effects are taking a toll on more than academic performance. It’s not enough to only look at the cause of student stress through the lens of educational pressure, though. What today’s students face impacts everything from classroom behavior and learning outcomes to long-term opportunities for future success. 

School administrators, mental health coordinators, and decision-makers should all be concerned. By understanding the causes of academic stress at the high school and college levels, we can proactively take steps to support well-being. 

Read on as we explore seven common reasons for stress in students and gain insight into how schools can address them.

1. Academic stress and pressure

Academic expectations for today’s high school students can be all-consuming, and the pressure causes significant stress in the classroom. Unhealthy expectations to perform impact cognitive function, motivation, and engagement. 

Research shows that academic stress is associated with reduced cognitive performance and working memory, increased levels of depression and anxiety, and an uptick in sleep disorders and substance use or abuse. 

Common sources of academic pressure include:

• Heavy course loads and long homework hours: Juggling advanced classes with hours of homework leaves students with little time to rest or recharge, often resulting in chronic sleep deprivation and burnout.
• Fear of failing or falling behind: The pressure to keep up with peers or meet unrealistic expectations can trigger intense anxiety and depression, especially in students who are already struggling or need accommodations for exams and studying.
• Standardized testing and performance anxiety: High-stakes testing environments create a culture of fear and perfectionism, which can lead to test anxiety, panic attacks, and avoidance of academic challenges.
• Pressure to maintain high GPAs for college: College is more competitive than ever, and the admissions process is a significant cause of student stress. The drive to achieve a competitive GPA often leads students to sacrifice sleep, social time, and self-care, fueling chronic stress and mental fatigue.
• Juggling school with extracurriculars or part-time jobs: Trying to balance academic and extracurricular activities with part-time jobs can leave students feeling overextended and emotionally drained, contributing to depression and disengagement.

How to support students 

Implementing the strategies below can help address some of the causes of academic stress in students​:

• Realistic homework policies and reasonable project timelines: Teachers should assign appropriate amounts of homework and allow ample time to complete projects.
• Flexible deadlines or reassessment opportunities: Students should be able to revise their work when feasible. Extended deadlines can also reduce anxiety and promote better learning outcomes.
• Academic counseling and time management workshops: Provide resources to help students develop effective study habits and manage their time more efficiently.
• Create safe spaces for students to express concerns: Establish outlets or support groups so students can express concerns and get guidance.

2. Social and peer-related stress

Social relationships play a huge role in teen well-being. The pressure teens feel to fit in, maintain friendships, and navigate peer dynamics can be emotionally exhausting, especially in environments where appearance, popularity, and social media matter as much as academic success.

Common sources of social and peer-related stress include:

• Bullying and social exclusion: Being bullied or left out by peers is a painful and all-too-common experience that can lead to deep emotional distress and a persistent sense of isolation.
• Peer pressure to fit in or conform: Students feel pressured to adopt behaviors or attitudes (even if they’re uncomfortable) in hopes of finding acceptance from their peers,  which can cause poor decision-making and engagement in risky behaviors.
• Friendship conflicts and group drama: Resolving conflict and dealing with group dynamics can be emotionally exhausting and stressful for teens, contributing to heightened anxiety, irritability, and symptoms of depression.
• Anxiety about popularity or social media presence: The desire to be popular has never been more important for teens. The constant pressure to appear likable or successful on social media can be all-consuming, fueling anxiety, self-doubt, and feelings of exclusion.
• Feeling isolated or struggling to make friends: Students who struggle to find and maintain authentic, meaningful connections may feel lonely and isolated, which only amplifies their stress and increases anxiety levels.

How to support students 

Schools can foster supportive social environments for students by:

• Starting and encouraging peer mentoring or buddy systems: Pair students with peers or buddies to promote social inclusion and provide help when needed.
• Adopting social-emotional learning (SEL) programs: SEL programs can effectively support students and teach them essential social and emotional skills like empathy, communication, and conflict resolution.
• Enforcing anti-bullying policies: Creating and enforcing anti-bullying policies make a safer, more accepting, and inclusive classroom environment.
• Creating inclusive extracurricular opportunities: Making extracurricular activities more accessible can foster connection and acceptance, allowing students to find comfort with like-minded peers.

3. Family and home life

When things are unstable at home, students carry that stress with them into the classroom. Family dynamics—whether it's financial strain, conflict, or caregiving responsibilities—can significantly affect emotional well-being, focus, and academic performance in elementary, high school, and college students.

Common family-related stressors include:

• Divorce or separation: When the family unit is disrupted, it can cause emotional upheaval, often leading to increased sadness, anxiety, and symptoms of depression.
• Financial insecurity: Financial difficulties—whether due to unemployment, debt, or housing costs—can leave students feeling embarrassed, anxious, and uncertain about their future, especially at the high school level when college is just around the corner.

• Domestic conflict or violence: Exposure to domestic violence or intense conflict has severe emotional and psychological consequences for students, including depression, heightened anxiety, aggression, and behavior issues.
• Caregiving responsibilities at home: When students are responsible for younger siblings or ill family members, the added pressure can lead to chronic stress, disengagement from school, and emotional exhaustion. This often makes it challenging to achieve academic success.

• Frequent moves or housing instability: Housing instability disrupts a student’s sense of belonging and almost always creates academic challenges, often resulting in absenteeism, declining performance, and persistent anxiety.

How to support students 

Educators and school staff play a vital role in helping students navigate stress stemming from their home environment. Schools can make a meaningful difference by:

• Training staff to recognize warning signs: Equip teachers, counselors, and school personnel with tools to spot indicators of stress, neglect, or emotional distress, so they can respond quickly and appropriately.
• Connecting families to community resources: Partner with local organizations to provide families access to food assistance, housing support, mental health services, and other essential resources.
• Creating a stable and predictable school environment: Consistent daily routines, clear expectations, and structured classroom settings can offer students a sense of safety and normalcy, even when their home life feels uncertain.
• Providing access to counseling and emotional support: Regular mental health check-ins, on-site counseling services, or streamlined referral systems can ensure students get the emotional care they need.
• Fostering open communication and trust: Build supportive relationships where students feel safe to talk about their concerns. A single trusted adult at school can have a powerful impact.

4. Mental health conditions

Mental health conditions—whether diagnosed or not—can significantly increase everyday stress for students. This is especially true when it comes to mental health in college students, who often face added academic, social, and financial pressures. Mental health conditions, like anxiety, depression, and ADHD, make it difficult to cope and can interfere with academic success and classroom participation. 

Ways mental health challenges can affect school success include:

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): Students with anxiety might experience overwhelming feelings of fear and worry that cause them to miss school or not do assignments. This often compounds their stress and contributes to depression.
• Depression: Depression can cause decreased motivation, fatigue, and sleep disturbances — all of which can negatively affect academic performance. Depression can drain energy and interfere with sleep, making it hard for students to get to class, complete assignments, or study effectively, resulting in falling behind and feeling unprepared.
• ADHD: ADHD makes it difficult for students to focus, follow instructions, and manage their behavior in school, which can cause academic struggles, low self-esteem, and feelings of failure, especially when left untreated.
• Students masking symptoms due to stigma or lack of support: Students might hide symptoms out of fear of stigma or due to a lack of understanding from peers and adults. This may result in missed school, incomplete work, increased anxiety or depression, and growing social withdrawal.

How to support students 

To help students manage mental health conditions and thrive academically, schools can take the following steps:

• Partner with mental health professionals: Ensure students have access to school counselors or licensed therapists who can provide support, therapy, or crisis intervention when needed.
• Implement tiered systems of support: Use frameworks like MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) or RTI (Response to Intervention) to proactively identify and support students based on the severity of their mental health needs.
• Promote mental health literacy among staff: Train educators and school personnel to recognize early signs of anxiety, depression, ADHD, and other conditions, and to respond with empathy and appropriate support.
• Conduct early screenings and provide referrals: Offer regular mental health screenings and create clear pathways for connecting students to external providers for diagnosis or treatment.
• Foster a stigma-free school culture: Create a safe, inclusive environment where students feel comfortable asking for help and talking openly about mental health without fear of judgment.

5. Technology and social media

In today’s digital age, social media is a major contributor to emotional stress among teens and college students. The pressure to maintain a certain online image, combined with cyberbullying and unhealthy comparisons, can significantly affect students' mental health. Constant connectivity also disrupts sleep and contributes to increased stress.

Ways technology and social media impact student stress include:

• Cyberbullying and anonymous harassment: Online bullying and harassment can have severe emotional and psychological harm, leading to feelings of fear, anxiety, and depression.
• Obsessive comparison to others online: Social media often showcases curated, idealized versions of others' lives, which can trigger feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem, and heightened anxiety or depression.
• Constant phone use interfering with sleep: Excessive phone use, especially late at night, disrupts sleep patterns and leaves students fatigued, which leads to decreased academic performance and difficulty focusing in class.

• Stress from trying to keep up with online trends or posts: The pressure to stay relevant by constantly posting or following trends can leave students feeling overwhelmed, contributing to anxiety, depression, and body image issues.
• Negative impacts of “doom scrolling” or online arguments: Negative news consumption or online arguments are newer causes of stress for students, but they can increase stress levels and anxiety, further fueling feelings of hopelessness and frustration.

How to support students 

To help students navigate the challenges of technology and social media, schools can implement these strategies:

• Host digital literacy and mental wellness workshops: Educate students and families on responsible technology use, online safety, and mental wellness strategies.
• Set clear boundaries on device usage: Implement and enforce policies that limit or restrict device use during class time to promote focus and engagement.
• Encourage mindfulness or screen-free initiatives: Organize activities such as meditation sessions, nature walks, or mindfulness exercises to help students disconnect from screens and recharge mentally.
• Engage parents in promoting healthy technology habits: Collaborate with parents to create consistent rules and expectations around technology use at home, ensuring students have the necessary support both in and outside of school.

6. Cultural and societal pressures

Students from marginalized communities face unique challenges that can intensify their stress. Cultural expectations, societal pressures, and discrimination all contribute to heightened anxiety and emotional distress, especially when students are navigating bicultural identities or trying to meet conflicting societal standards.

Examples of cultural and societal pressure:

• Discrimination based on race, gender, or sexual orientation: Facing discrimination creates a sense of isolation, anger, and profound low self-esteem, leading to depression and feelings of loneliness.
• Pressure to assimilate or meet cultural expectations: Students often feel pressured to abandon their cultural identity to fit in or meet external expectations, which can leave them feeling alienated, anxious, and self-conscious about their identity.

• Fear of immigration status exposure: For students in immigrant families, the constant anxiety surrounding their or their family’s immigration status often causes heightened stress, increased absenteeism, and ongoing fear about the future.

• Navigating bicultural identities or language barriers: Balancing two cultural identities while managing language barriers can be stressful and confusing, which may lead to anxiety, low self-esteem, and fear about how others perceive them.

How to support students 

To help students manage the stress of cultural and societal pressures, schools can create inclusive environments by:

• Using culturally responsive teaching practices: Adapt classroom strategies to reflect and affirm the diverse cultural backgrounds, languages, and lived experiences of all students.
• Integrating identity into the curriculum and school culture: Highlight underrepresented voices in the curriculum and host events that celebrate cultural heritage, helping students feel seen and valued.
• Establishing safe and affirming spaces: Create student groups or designated areas where students can express themselves freely, connect with peers, and find community support.
• Training staff in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI): Equip educators with the skills to recognize bias, foster inclusion, and create welcoming environments for students of all identities and backgrounds.

7. Lack of support

When students don’t feel supported—emotionally, academically, or socially—they’re more likely to feel overwhelmed, invisible, and disengaged. A lack of support systems increases stress and anxiety levels and can ultimately hinder academic success.

Below are common ways a lack of support shows up in school environments and how it impacts students.

• Students are afraid to ask for help due to stigma: The fear of being judged or labeled often prevents students from reaching out, leaving them feeling isolated, lonely, and increasingly anxious.
• Overburdened counselors and lack of on-site mental health staff: Limited access to trained professionals makes it difficult for students to receive timely help, which can lead to increased anxiety, disengagement, and symptoms of depression.

• Student-to-teacher ratios limit personal connection: Large class sizes make it even more challenging for teachers to offer personal connections and provide individualized support, resulting in a lack of motivation, rising absenteeism, and declining academic performance.
• Approaches to discipline that use punishment instead of support: When schools prioritize disciplinary approaches over understanding and guidance, students may feel misunderstood and pushed out, contributing to more absences and worsening academic outcomes.

How to support students 

Schools can strengthen support systems and create a more responsive, student-centered environment by:

• Investing in more mental health wellness resources: Increase the number of counselors, psychologists, and social workers available to ensure students receive timely, personalized support.
• Equipping educators to spot signs of struggle: Train teachers and staff to recognize when students are emotionally or academically overwhelmed and how to intervene with empathy and care.
• Use restorative SEL-focused practices: Replace punitive discipline with restorative justice and social-emotional learning to build trust, repair harm, and support student growth.
• Prioritizing student voice and connection: Create opportunities for students to provide feedback on their experiences and identify areas where they need support.

Supporting student well-being starts with systemic solutions

Schools play a critical role in shaping student wellness. Improving student mental health in schools is essential for long-term academic and emotional success. Student stress comes from many places, but schools can address it through thoughtful policies, support systems, and early intervention. Ensuring access to mental health can improve academic outcomes, reduce student burnout and anxiety, and foster a healthier school environment.

Schools that partner with Talkspace can offer accessible, flexible mental health support for students and educators. Talkspace’s services are tailored to educational settings, so students can easily access essential resources like online therapy.

Prioritize mental well-being in your school with online therapy for students and staff at Talkspace. Investing in mental health is no longer an option — it’s an essential part of helping students find success. Request a demo today to explore Talkspace for school and reduce stress for students.

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Sources:

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1. “American Psychological Association Survey Shows Teen Stress Rivals That of Adults.” 2012. American Psychological Association (APA). 2012. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2014/02/teen-stress. Accessed April 21, 2025.
2. Brata, Wasis Wuyung Wisnu, Hendra Susanto, and Siti Zubaidah. 2025. “Theoretical Underpinnings and Future Research on Academic Stress in Biological and Educational Perspectives.” Humanities and Social Sciences Communications 12 (1). tps://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04484-w. Accessed April 21, 2025.

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