How exams affect students mental health?
Summary
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1.
How do exams affect students mental health? |
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2.
What are the symptoms of exam stress? |
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3.
How Does exam stress affect students? |
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4.
How do you handle exam pressure? |
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5.
How can we prevent exam stress? |
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6.
How can students relieve stress? |
• How do exams affect students mental health?
Exam stress can lead to many different mental
illnesses, like depression and anxiety, panic attacks, low self-esteem,
self-harming and suicidal thoughts and worsening of pre-existing mental health
conditions.
Is mental health becoming a serious issue in
exam students
According to
school report of BBC It has become an increasingly worrying issue that the
contents of the new exams has burdened students with an abundance of
unnecessary stress, which may have a detrimental effect on their mental health,
both now and in the future. With 29% of the 201 teen suicides in 2014 taking
place whilst waiting for exam results, or the exams themselves, (information
from a report on the BBC website), the focus is now on creating a positive
place to air issues and concerns.
People are
beginning to try and tackle this issue in many different ways. A good example
of this is the ‘Gregathlon’, in which Greg James will be completing several
challenges: including climbing the three highest peaks in the UK and cycling
the 500 miles between them. So far, Greg has raised a mountainous amount of
£739,425! Since last year, the money raised by Sport Relief has helped by funding
more than 50,000 adults and young people in full time education living in the
UK with mental health problems.
Having
interviewed a current 6th form student who is now doing her A-level courses.
But this interview talks about their perspective on the GCSE’s when they were
in Year 11.
Do you think
students are being supported enough throughout exams?
“I think
there is support within school, however it isn’t necessarily accessible to
students who aren’t already registered within the student welfare system and if
there is access to it you have to wait a while and often you can only see them
once because of their schedule.”
Do you think
the amount of stress put on students with the new exam system is fair?
“I think
that the amount of stress put onto students is unnecessary but it also depends
on your home life because personally my parents didn’t put much stress on me
but I know that some students have the added stress from their parents. As for
teachers, I think especially if you are a high achiever, the teachers put more
pressure on you. Even if they try not to, there’s always an expectation for you
to achieve a certain amount.”
•
What are the
symptoms of exam stress?
Symptoms of exam stress may include:
1.
Losing touch
with friends and the activities you enjoy.
2.
Feeling
moody, low or overwhelmed.
3.
Having
trouble making decisions.
4.
Losing your
appetite or over eating.
5.
Sleeping
poorly and struggling to get out of bed.
6.
Difficulty
getting motivated to start studying.
7.
Tense
muscles or headaches.
Practical
ideas to help with study
1.
Go to bed at
a reasonable time, eat regularly and make time to have fun and exercise.
2.
Cut back on
energy drinks, coffee or any other stimulants as these can make you feel
agitated; drink water instead.
3.
When you
eat, relax and allow yourself time rather than carrying on with work.
4.
Avoid junk
food–it provides a sudden burst of energy which will disappear, leaving you
feeling worn out.
5.
Eat a
well-balanced diet.
6.
Reward
yourself when you achieve your study goals, such as watching an episode of your
favourite TV show or going for a run.
7.
Allow
yourself time to rest.
8.
Stay focused
on your study; try not to get distracted.
• How Does exam stress affect students?
In fact,
students who struggle with test anxiety typically fall a half a letter grade
below their peers. In addition to academic impacts, text anxiety can affect a
student's mental health, including lowered self-esteem, confidence, and
motivation.
An upcoming
test or exam can be a stressful time for any student.
Many
students experience some amount of stress and anxiety before and during exams.
However, test anxiety is more severe, and can actually impair learning and hurt
test performance.
Because of
this, it’s important to know how to identify test anxiety in your child so he
or she can learn how to deal with it.
Keep reading
to learn more about test anxiety and how it can affect students.
SITUATIONAL
CAUSES
1.
The pressure
of timed tests
2.
Intimidation
of taking tests in a crowded classroom
3.
Poor study
skills or a lack of preparedness
4.
A history of
stress related to test taking
5.
Lack of
understanding of the material
6.
Previous
poor test performance
• How do you handle exam pressure?
7
tips to help you cope with exam stress
1. Remember to
breathe.
2. Eat, sleep
and exercise well.
3. Set
realistic goals.
4. Don't go it
alone.
5. Pace
yourself through panic.
6. Believe in
yourself.
7. If you feel
like you are struggling, talk to someone.
A little
stress can be a good thing: it can be the motivational push that we need to get
things done. However, sometimes, dealing with stress (especially during exam
season) can be a difficult thing to do. And, with an estimated 20-50% annual
increase of university students seeking help for studies-related mental health
issues, it's clear that we're under more pressure than ever before. So, here to
your rescue are seven tips to help you through the stressful exam period.
•
How can we
prevent exam stress?
quick ways
to help eliminate exam stress
1.
Watch a
film, a TV show or listen to a podcast or comedian that makes you laugh.
2.
Drink some
herbal tea or a hot chocolate.
3.
A shower or
a bath can help to relieve stress.
4.
Cook or bake
something.
5.
Get some
sleep.
6.
Keep things
in perspective.
7.
Avoid other
stressed people.
Exam season
can bring on levels of stress and burnout that can hinder your studies. Here
are some handy tips on how to manage your anxiety
Exam stress
affects most students in varying ways. It is important to manage this stress
and find little ways of helping to eliminate the risk of burnout.
For some
students, exams can be a breeze; revision is second nature to them and they
could ace an exam with their eyes closed. But for others, sweaty palms and
heart palpitations are just a part of the territory, and it seems that nothing
is more impossible than sitting down and revising. Here are some handy tips
that can help to dissipate stress and make sure you can get through exam
season.
•
How can
students relieve stress?
These
options are relatively easy, quick, and relevant to a student's life and types
of stress.
1.
Get Enough
Sleep.
2.
Practice
Visualization.
3.
Exercise
Regularly.
4.
Take Calming
Breaths.
5.
Practice
Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)
6.
Listen to
Music.
7.
Get
Organized.
8.
Eat a
Healthy Diet.
Most
students experience significant amounts of stress, and this stress can take a
significant toll on health, happiness, and grades. For example, a study by the
American Psychological Association (APA) found that teens report stress levels
similar to that of adults.
That means
teens are experiencing significant levels of chronic stress, and that they feel
their levels of stress generally exceed their ability to cope effectively.
Roughly 30% report feeling overwhelmed, depressed, or sad because of it.1
Stress can
affect health-related behaviors like sleep patterns, diet, and exercise as
well, taking a larger toll. Given that nearly half of APA survey respondents
reported completing three hours of homework per night in addition to their full
day of school work and extracurriculars, this is understandable.
