Young people in Australia experience very high stress in schools, which has negative impacts on their academic performance and mental health. It is crucial schools teach students how to identify and best manage stress. These skills will continue to benefit them throughout their lives.
Adolescence is as health-related behaviours established during this period .
, , in the United States. Similar programs would benefit Australian school children.
Australian school kids are highly stressed
when they study, compared to the international average of 37 per cent.
Based on the OECD average, 67 per cent of Australian students report feeling very anxious even if well prepared for a test, compared to the international average of 56 per cent .
In the 50 per cent of young people in years seven to 12 who report feeling moderately to extremely stressed over exams, the number one source of pressure . Coping with stress .
The impact of school stress on young Australians and society
Drop out
School related academic and and .
Australian . People with higher rates of education .
In 2014, there were almost 38,000 early school leavers aged 19, . Dropping out can also have wider social impacts, like of low academic outcomes, , poverty, less participation in the political process and contribution to the community.
The impact of stress and poor stress management follows young people into higher education. In 83 per cent of Australian TAFE and undergraduate students, .
In , and higher anxiety about exams .
Risky behaviour
Substance use has been to be a dominant stress management strategy in year 11 students in the US. In Canada, students who felt connected to their school better health, higher self-worth, less anxiety and less likelihood of smoking, drinking alcohol and associating with peers who commit crimes.
Academic resilience and buoyancy increases the likelihood of success in school . Resilient and buoyant students , .
Schools can better support students with yoga programs
Schools can change educational policies and practices to . Student stress levels relate to how supportive they feel their teachers and schools are, rather than the number of school hours or the frequency of tests, .
The practice of yoga and mindfulness in recent years in Australia. These practices .
- controlled breathing
- meditative techniques
- asanas (the physical yoga postures or positions)
- , which is the process of focusing awareness on the present moment and acknowledging and accepting feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, in a non-judgmental way.
Mindfulness-based communication , while students who take part in some moderate or vigorous physical activity are less likely to report they .
In high school settings, studies from the US and India show mindfulness based yoga programs or , , , , .
A showed yoga improves self-image and management of negative emotions and optimism. Students think yoga could reduce interest in the use of drugs and alcohol and increase social cohesion with family and peers.
At home, parents can consider practising mindfulness together with their kids, and can access a range of mindfulness and meditation online programs and apps for young people, such as through and .
Given the evidence base, offering mindfulness based yoga programs in schools may help young people learn to manage stress and increase their ability to bounce back in response to stress.
