Draft:Stress in adolescence

A girl experiencing psychological stress. In adolescence, academic pressure such as high-stakes standardized testing can cause excessive stress buildup.

Adolescents experience a variety of stresses. This is caused by multiple factors, such as academic pressure, social media usage, major life events, socioeconomic factors, and the general vulnerability of development through puberty. Although stress to a certain extent in teenagers has been shown to be beneficial, many teenagers report their stress levels as higher than what is considered healthy, with their stress levels projected to increase. As a result, psychological stress in adolescents can lead to various adverse psychological and physical effects, including physical illness and depression.

Causes

Stress in adolescence can be caused by multiple factors, especially considering adolescence as a critical stage for development of a distinct identity. Situations that may promote stress in adolescents include:

• Familial pressures
• Familial conflicts and parental divorce
• Academic pressure
• Pressure from peers
• Socioeconomic issues
• Gender roles
• Sexual activity
• Social media
• Developmental changes
• Doubts over appearance and body image
• Major life events
• Racial disparities

Of the major stressors in adolescence, a 2008 qualitative study found that academic pressure ranked first in perceived stressors in teenagers, followed by economic pressure and relationships respectively in the top three.

Role of family stability and support in adolescent stress

There has been an established link between familial instability and stress in adolescents. Studies have shown that tense family environments have a significant correlation with stress levels in adolescents. Conflicts within the family and an unhealthy familial relationship generally cause unknown conditions to the adolescent, which could engender stress. In general, a more authoritarian family environment as well as lack of free space to express emotions and concerns to family members is largely prevalent in teens who identify familial conflicts as a stressor. Severe cases of familial instability, such as domestic violence, can also cause extreme stress in adolescents and ultimately manifest itself in more severe mental consequences. Other events contributing to instability in a family, such as bereavement, can also contribute to heightened stress in adolescents. Additionally, other factors in familial instability, such as repeated relocations, can negatively impact the adolescent as they are forced to rewire their social networks and sources of support, which may generate additional unwanted stress. Families in unstable or disadvantageous socioeconomic situations also generally display higher levels of stress from adolescents. The role of the household in adolescent stress remains important due to the continued dependency of the adolescent on the family unit despite forming their own identities, and the perceived lack of guidance and support during the period can cause the adolescent to experience further stress. In addition, the conflict between continued dependency on the family and the gradual formation of an independent identity itself can cause times of uncertainties and stress, in part due to shifts in support networks to friends instead of family members.

Role of academic pressure in adolescent stress

Due to adolescence being regarded as a critical point in education, such as the results of high-stakes standardized testing and the academic pressure resulting from college applications and extracurricular activities, academic pressure is frequently mentioned as a top source of stress for adolescents. One such factor, standardized testing, has contributed measurable spikes in cortisol levels in the weeks before testing. This is largely due to standardized testing's potential impacts on college admission, course placement, and other educational outcomes, and the so-called "all or nothing" perception of standardized tests, which can benefit or detriment students both in actuality and in perception. Additionally, familial pressures on students to score well also lead to increased stress due to the simultaneous pressures of scoring well and fear of disappointment to the adolescent's family.