Teens Stress Too

What is the number one problem facing teens?  Some might say that it's drinking, smoking, or one of the other classic answers.  However, many people do not take stress into consideration.  It is the number one problem facing teens because it is the source of most of the other problems.  For example, too much stress can cause teens to smoke, drink, or participate in another inappropriate way to relieve the stress.    Some even avoid trying to deal with their stress.  This causes feelings to build up, thus causing more stress.  Teens try to relieve stress their own way because most don't want to ask for help.

                                Boys

25% avoided or refused to deal with their stress,

23% sought ways to distract themselves away from their stress,

17% sought support, and

35% actively tried to reduce their stress.

                                Girls

19% avoided or refused to deal with their stress,

14 % sought ways to distract themselves away from their stress,

22% sought support, and

45% actively tried to remove or reduce their stress

These statistics show that girls and boys deal with their stress in different ways.  Boys have a tendency to avoid dealing with their stress while girls have a larger tendency to actively reduce their stress.  As said by TeenHelp, girls' stress stem from their relationship with boys and friendships with girls.  Most boys' stress tend to stem from authority figures. 




Many things cause teens to have stress.  According to Johns Hopkins, school is the number one cause of stress in teens.  The two graphs above support this statement.  It's understandable when you factor in the pressure of getting good grades, planning for your future, and achieving the extracurricular activities required for college.  In the top graph, it shows that girls tend to stress about school, friends and family more than boys.  The graph shows that boys have a habit of stressing about work more than girls.  In the bottom graph, it shows the top ten things that cause teens stress.  School, family/parents, friends, work, and sports cause stress the most. 

How can this problem be improved?  A solution to this problem would be to have schools do something to help teens release their stress at least one day a week.  The P.E. classes could take one day off and let the students do something that they enjoy for the class.  This way, teens could take a break from their stress at least once a week. 

http://www.teenagestress.org/

http://www.teenhelp.com/teen-stress/stress-statistics.html

http://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/center-for-adolescent-health/_includes/Teen_Stress_Standalone.pdf