Teenagers live in a world of school, friends, family, activities, and work. Adults may see teen lives as easy-going and stress free; however, teenagers face real stressful situations. This article identifies such stressors.
Teenage Stress at School
Since students spend most of their time at a school, the most stress originates from this category. Teenagers identify academic performances as a top stressor in their lives. Gifted students stress about obtaining perfect grades, average students stress out about competing with the gifted students, and below average students stress out about just passing.
Some other school related stressors include the following:
- Being bullied or harassed
- Taking classes beyond academic ability
- Having personality conflicts with teachers
- Being truant
- Having difficulty balance time
- Lacking study skills and study habits
- Comparing self to others
- Participating in too many activities
Teenage Stress With Friends
Peer pressure is another top stressor among teenagers. Friends may entice teens to drink, use chemicals, steal, break laws, have sex, and skip school. These activities may violate values and beliefs instilled in the teen; however, losing friendships or being an outcast will cause the teen to have stress about which direction to travel.
Another stress with friends includes relationships with a boyfriend or girlfriend. Teenagers find themselves developing a first, real relationship outside of their family. Sometimes emotions at this stage are intense, and when a breakup occurs teens may find themselves stressed out trying to understand the breakup or fix the situation.
Teenage Stress With Family
As teens continue to develop, they increase the need to exercise independence. Separation from family, especially parents, occurs. Parents and teens may begin to argue intensely about curfew, chores, choice of friends, moving, college planning, church attendance, and more.
Even though separation from family is to be expected, this may be delayed due to a family member with an illness, a family member who has died, or parents who are separating or divorcing. Teens may not understand fully what is happening or know how to act. Additionally, they may feel powerless to control what is occurring. This can also cause stress.
One other element of family stress is the family’s financial situation. Unemployment of a parent, foreclosure of a home, and general lack of money may place stress on the teen. More stress can occur if the teen is required to contribute by obtaining a job.
Stress can place pressure and anxiety on teenagers. Identifying the cause of the stress is the first step. From there teens can learn positive ways to release stress and find resolutions to their situations.
Kerrie Troseth - Kerrie is a licensed school counselor who works exclusively with adolescents. As a school counselor she is trained in the areas of ...
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