Background on the Issue 

Written by Oyinkansola Adebusoye

Stress is a biological survival mechanism that allowed our ancestors to be more alert during instances where their life was in danger. This response is known as “fight-or-flight.” ‘Stressors’ are defined as things that lead to stress. In the modern world, our bodies experience stress based on non-life-threatening situations, such as the pressure that comes with studying for final exams for school, or the anxiety teenagers feel when it comes to fitting in their social circles. The fight-or-flight response involves 2 major areas of the brain: the amygdala and the hypothalamus. According to a 2024 article from Harvard Health Publishing by the Harvard Medical School, the amygdala “sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus [which] … functions like a command center” and uses the autonomic nervous system to inform the body that excess energy is needed for the person to escape or fight. Signals are then sent through the adrenal gland, which then releases epinephrine. Epinephrine then allows the heart to pump an increased volume of blood through the body, accelerates breathing to allow for increased oxygen-intake, heightens sight, hearing, and other senses, and more, to allow the person to defend themselves (Harvard Health Publishing). 

The stress response is a critical part of our lives; however, chronic stress, which is defined as the “repeated activation of the stress response,” can cause wear-and-tear in the human body (Harvard Health Publishing). Unfortunately, many teenagers are feeling the impact of chronic stress. According to 2024 data published by the Pew Research Center, 68% of “all teens ages 13 to 17” report feeling “a great deal/fair amount of pressure to [get good grades]” (Parker and Hurst). This data demonstrates that academic stress exists and plagues the minds of teenagers primarily because they want to earn the highest possible grades that they can.

Additionally, these academic pressures have unfortunately been on the rise. The World Health Organization supports this with data emphasizing that in 2018, 54% of 15-year-old teen girls and 40% of 15-year-old teen boys reported feeling stressed. However, in 2024, these numbers rose to 63% for teen girls and 43% for teen boys (World Health Organization). This shows that teenagers are facing more and more pressure, which in turn has a negative impact on their mental health.

Compared to adults, teens have been much more stressed and are experiencing declining mental health. A 2018 survey by the American Psychological Association yielded statistics supporting that out of all age groups, teens are the most stressed and have the worst mental health states (Divecha).

Overall, these statistics demonstrate the significance of stress in the lives of today’s teenagers. Most teenagers overwork their bodies by constantly reactivating their stress response, primarily due to anxiety surrounding their academic performance in school. This stress leads teenagers to be more vulnerable to negative mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.

Real Impact

Written by Jeff Minsona Leba

For many teenagers and young adults, stress shows up in all parts of the body, not just where everyone thinks stress is usually present, the mind. According to the 2025 Stress in America report from the American Psychological Association (APA), 83% of people who reported stress related to social and political division also experienced at least one physical symptom of stress in the previous month. These symptoms are brushed off as temporary or minor ones, but they can let the body know that it is under strain. When stress continues for long periods of time, the body stays in “fight-or-flight” mode. As time goes on, eventually, staying in fight-or-flight can affect sleep, energy levels, and health. 

Another factor closely connected to stress is loneliness. Research shows that its effects go far beyond feeling socially isolated. Among people who report high levels of loneliness, 94% experience at least one physical symptom of stress, and about 80% report living with a chronic health condition, including chronic pain, anxiety disorders, or cardiovascular issues (American Psychological Association, 2025).

Some of the most commonly reported physical effects include: 42% of people experiencing nervousness or anxiety, which is often connected to the body always staying alert, while 40% of people experience chronic fatigue. Chronic fatigue and long-term stress can disrupt sleep and drain energy. Next, 39% of people get headaches because muscle tension and stress-related changes in blood flow can trigger frequent headaches. The rest of the people who reported symptoms get muscle tension and sleep disturbances (Dinesh, 2025), so the body stays physically “ready” for stress, which can cause tightness and discomfort. Stress hormones such as cortisol can disrupt normal sleep cycles for people who have stress all the time.

Schools are beginning to respond to this challenge by teaching practical stress management and emotional regulation skills in the classroom. For example, a high school in Southwestern Connecticut introduced a version of Dialectical Behavior Therapy called DBT STEPS-A in the 10th-grade health curriculum, giving students concrete strategies to manage emotions and cope with stress. After completing the program, students reported that the skills helped them change their mindset, respond more thoughtfully to challenges, and create positivity (Hatzis, 2022).

Closing 

Written by Enjeh Suna

• There are many ways teens can deal with stress in today's world. These methods include:

  • Eating regularly and exercising.

  • Getting enough rest and having a good sleep schedule.

  • Avoiding excess caffeine like sodas, or coffee.

  • Avoiding the use of illegal substances like drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.

  • Do things that deter your mind from negative thoughts like arts and crafts or watching your favorite TV show/movie.

  • Speaking with trusted family members and friends about your issues and receiving help or advice on solving them

• Why it’s important to know how stress shows up in teens/how it impacts teens' lives.

• Knowing how stress shows up in teens is extremely important so that you can help them out before they develop into even more serious issues and outcomes that can’t be reversed. Whether you’re an adult, teen, or child we all go through stress, so it’s important that we all make sure to take care and look after each other when in need.