If you are a teenager or high school student, you might know the pressure and confusion you go through when choosing which college you should apply to or which major to select for your career choice. Currently, teens face more psychological and social pressure in all things growing up as society has evolved dramatically, putting new challenges ahead for each new generation.
Adolescence is already a challenging phase of life, including growing bodies and hormonal changes. Teenagers are often presumed depressed and anxious because of their changing behavior and stressful environment, including the systematic pressure on teenagers.
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Increased Stress in Academic Life
Teachers and parents place academic pressure on teenagers, while the systematic pressure has increased more in the past 30 years due to technology. Parents and teachers want teenagers to score higher test scores, while learning has not been equally encouraged. Some high schools have been known to teach only to test answers rather than develop critical thinkers.
In a 2016's survey conducted by the US Department of Health and Human Services, 346.3 out of 787 (44%) expressed that they have more substantial pressure to succeed and score better than others. At the same time, most teens have experienced several episodes of depression and anxiety due to pressure at school.
Academic success is paired with success in life, whereas getting high grades, scoring more, and performing brilliantly have placed enormous pressure on and become more challenging to adolescents as they are developing their identities. Parents love to brag about which prestigious colleges their children were accepted to or where they are enrolling in the fall.
Developing Satisfactory Peer Relationships
Peer pressure is now standard in teenagers because everyone wants to fit in. It is observed that teens who do not develop positive peer relations feel more anxious and depressed in their adolescent years.
Teens need friends who increase their self-esteem and become their emotional support. Making friends with the same positive qualities or interests helps you in personality development and boosts self-esteem. Adolescence is when the most significant degree of conformity to peer pressure occurs, and peers become the primary or leading way to support and build identity.
Social Media Platforms and Teens
With the rapid technological growth over the past couple of years, social media platforms have dominated the world. The advantages of connecting to people worldwide fall short when the one thing it has exposed teenagers to is brought to attention. Which is what? Unrealistic expectations and benchmarks – athletics, beauty standards, etc. The fake representation has made adolescents more anxious about their lives and has challenged their personal development and growth.
It has been found in multiple pieces of research that social media increase feelings of anxiety, isolation, and depression which brings out various mental health issues in teens. Whereas seeing “popularity” in the shape of likes, comments and shares has qualified for developing feelings of jealousy, insecurity, and superiority complexes.
Having to endure significant pressure from adolescence can take a severe toll on an individual's mental health and well-being. It can have a serious impact, giving root to depression and anxiety in teenagers.
Adolescence is crucial to develop and establishing healthy habits with personal growth. Teens must have the support of people whom they consider their well-wishers. It is essential to allow teens to express themselves to have a healthy lifestyle and secure future.
