School stress is affecting nearly all children and young people across the state of NSW, in new Office for Youth polling released today by the NSW Advocate for Children and Young People, Ms Zoë Robinson.
The survey revealed that 95 per cent of students experience school-related stress, with two in five reporting high levels of stress and more than half of Year 11 and 12 students rating their stress as severe. A quarter of primary students also reported high levels of stress.
‘We know that stress is a normal part of learning, but it becomes a problem when young people feel overwhelmed or unsupported. This research gives us insights to make sure no young person feels alone in managing school stress,’ said Ms Robinson.
‘Almost every young person told us they feel stressed about school in some way, but the reasons and impacts differ widely. These findings help us understand not just how widespread school stress is, but also which students need more support and how we can respond.’
What kind of stress?
The survey explored students’ experiences of school stress in the classroom, at home and online, its impact on wellbeing, and how young people manage or prevent stress.
Just half of students felt confident in their ability to manage school stress, while a quarter of students felt both highly stressed and unable to manage that stress.
‘Unsurprisingly, Year 11 and 12 students were more stressed than their younger peers, but the results also show that students with autism or learning disabilities, experiences of mental ill-health or chronic illness, those at single-sex schools and girls report higher levels of school stress,’ said Ms Robinson.
‘More positively, students who feel they belong at school tend to report lower levels of stress and better overall wellbeing. A sense of belonging is one of the strongest protective factors we can foster.’
Other findings
The survey of 1,000 children and young people aged 10 to 18 from across NSW revealed that:
- Stress peaks during exams and assessments, with the most common causes of stress being worries about not doing well in assessments (52 per cent) or exams (51 per cent), or having too much schoolwork or homework (42 per cent).
- Outside the classroom, changes in friendships (30 per cent), peer behaviour during class (24 per cent), and mental health (20 per cent) or bullying (19 per cent) were among the top stressors.
- While half of students said they felt confident managing school stress, one in four (26 per cent) reported being both highly stressed and unable to manage it.
- Students reported playing video games, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family to help prevent stress.
- The most common strategies for managing stress included speaking to parents or carers, friends or teachers, and engaging in exercise or other activities.
The full report can be found at www.officeforyouth.nsw.gov.au.
If you are worried about the mental health of yourself or someone you know, contact the NSW Mental Health line on 1800 011 511 or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.
