What is Stress?
Stress is a normal everyday occurrence and is our body’s response to situations that can be perceived as threatening or difficult. We may feel stressed when we are afraid, overworked, over stimulated or excited.
People become stressed from different situations and each individual reacts differently. Some children are more sensitive to stress and some are better at handling it than others.
There are a several causes of everyday stress such as: friendship difficulties; exposure to new situations; rushed mornings; separation from parents; or too many expectations. However, other incidences may result in long-term or chronic stress. These include divorce; serious ongoing family conflict; death of a loved one; serious illness; or being bullied.
People become stressed from different situations and each individual reacts differently. Some children are more sensitive to stress and some are better at handling it than others.
There are a several causes of everyday stress such as: friendship difficulties; exposure to new situations; rushed mornings; separation from parents; or too many expectations. However, other incidences may result in long-term or chronic stress. These include divorce; serious ongoing family conflict; death of a loved one; serious illness; or being bullied.
Stages of Stress
There are three different stages in which we go through in relation to stress according to Selye (1985).
Alarm: This is a quick reaction (fight or flight response) in which we perceive the stressor as threatening. Adrenaline related changes are experienced and our body reacts by preparing us for perceived problems.
Resistance: This second stage is where the body manages the stress whilst still experiencing the stress.
Exhaustion: The final stage is where our bodies become "burnt out" and may experience problems. We may succumb to a range of disorders as seen below:
Alarm: This is a quick reaction (fight or flight response) in which we perceive the stressor as threatening. Adrenaline related changes are experienced and our body reacts by preparing us for perceived problems.
Resistance: This second stage is where the body manages the stress whilst still experiencing the stress.
Exhaustion: The final stage is where our bodies become "burnt out" and may experience problems. We may succumb to a range of disorders as seen below:
Stress Symptoms
The symptoms of stress:
It's not always easy to know when kids are stressed because they often struggle to articulate their feelings. Symptoms of stress can include:
It's not always easy to know when kids are stressed because they often struggle to articulate their feelings. Symptoms of stress can include:
- Mood swings, particularly swinging between anger and tears
- Inability to concentrate at school, or abrupt change in school results
- Overreacting to problems
- Inability to sleep, or nightmares
- Bedwetting
- Stomach aches, feeling nauseous
- Headaches
- Sweating
- Becoming withdrawn
- Separation anxiety
- Lying
- Bullying
Stress in Society
Increased stress and poor management of stress have been known to not only lead to physical symptoms and poor health and well-being but to increased violent outbursts in children, adolescents and adults. It is for this reason that stress management techniques are important life skills to teach children. The range of activities presented on this website aid teachers and parents on ways to help children relieve and better cope with their stress. This will in turn lead to calmer classrooms and home environments.
Statistics
The National KidsPoll surveyed 875 9- to 13-year-old boys and girls regarding how they coped with stress. The KidsPoll is a collaboration of the Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth, the Department of Health Education and Recreation at Southern Illinois University — Carbondale, the National Association of Health Education Centers (NAHEC), and participating health education centres throughout the United States.
Children were asked what things cause them the most stress. The results suggested that they were stressed out the most by:
Grades, School, and Homework (36%) Family (32%) and Friends, Peers, Gossip, and Teasing (21%).
About 25% of the kids surveyed said that when they are upset, they take it out on themselves, either by banging their heads against something, hitting or biting themselves, or doing something else to hurt themselves. These kids also were more likely to have other unhealthy coping strategies, such as eating, losing their tempers, and keeping problems to themselves.
Coping strategies:
These are the coping strategies kids said they use the most (they could give more than one response):
Children were asked what things cause them the most stress. The results suggested that they were stressed out the most by:
Grades, School, and Homework (36%) Family (32%) and Friends, Peers, Gossip, and Teasing (21%).
About 25% of the kids surveyed said that when they are upset, they take it out on themselves, either by banging their heads against something, hitting or biting themselves, or doing something else to hurt themselves. These kids also were more likely to have other unhealthy coping strategies, such as eating, losing their tempers, and keeping problems to themselves.
Coping strategies:
These are the coping strategies kids said they use the most (they could give more than one response):
- 52% play or do something active
- 44% listen to music
- 42% watch TV or play a video game
- 30% talk to a friend
- 29% try not to think about it
- 28% try to work things out
- 26% eat something
- 23% lose their temper
- 22% talk to a parent
- 11% cry