Educational Stress
Studies have found that academic stress is the most prominent source of stress for students, and levels of stress are elevated, particularly in Asian populations.
What Is Educational Stress?
Academic or educational stress is the emotional distress that students experience within the educational context.
Over the past decade, psychological distress among adolescents has grown. In Norway, adolescent psychological distress has doubled from 15% to 30% between 2006 and 2019.
Causes Of Educational Stress
Some studies suggest that the increase in psychological distress is partly due to rising educational pressures, dubbed the educational stress hypothesis.
According to this hypothesis, there is an increasing emphasis placed on academic achievements and school-related attainments. Students feel pressured to do well in school – get good grades, join multiple extra-curricular activities, and volunteer their time in various organisations. The prevailing assumption is that the better you do in school, the better your chance of enrolling in a “good” university, and the more successful you will be.
There are also a lot of comparisons among students as they compete with each other to have the “best” resume.
As a result, students feel pressured to achieve stellar results and engage in extra-curricular activities that will impress others and boost their resumes.
Impact Of Educational Stress
Some level of stress is healthy. Stress is a routine part of life, including for students, and the presence of a healthy level of stress can motivate students to achieve important milestones that they might not have otherwise attempted.
Overcoming stress can also build self-confidence and self-esteem and help students learn more about their own strengths and weaknesses.
However, severe levels of stress can have negative impacts on students physically, cognitively and emotionally.
Symptoms Of Educational Stress
Stress involves physiological changes to the body, such as the release of chemicals like adrenaline and cortisol to prepare the body for fight or flight.
Over time, this can lead to:
- Physical symptoms: headaches, tummy aches, trouble sleeping, getting sick easily
- Cognitive symptoms: difficulty concentrating and paying attention
- Emotional and mental symptoms: easily overwhelmed, easily irritable, depression, anxiety, burnout
Severe levels of stress do not always look like crying or having panic attacks. Most of the time, it looks like expectations to achieve a perfect grade, difficulty taking time off for friends or family.
How Can Parents Help Children Manage Their Stress?
Here are some ways parents can help their child alleviate educational stress:
1. Start a dialogue about educational stress with them
Find out about how they feel about school, their subjects, teachers, peers and extra-curricular activities. Be open and curious, try not to problem-solve.
2. Have conversations with them about non-educational topics
For example, instead of asking them about how the test went, ask them about what they ate for lunch, who they saw in school today, and what movies they are watching.
This discontinues the sense of pressure they feel from school and helps them focus on other things. This can also strengthen your relationship with them, as it communicates your interest in who they are outside of their education and achievements.
3. Help them schedule breaks in their busy routines
For instance, if they plan to do homework for 3-4 hours, schedule in a 30-minute break in between. Encourage them to take a full day off once a week, or once every few weeks.
4. Teach them emotion regulation skills
First, help them recognise how stress shows up in their body – is it irritability? Feeling close to tears? Sleeping a lot?
Teach them that when these signs are present, it is time to take an emergency break. Build relaxation and mindfulness skills into their routine. Start with simple, short, deep breathing exercise.
When To Seek Help?
It is normal to experience periods of high stress. For example, during national exams, you might see your child exhibiting physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms more frequently.
However, if these symptoms persist even after the stressful period is over and last for a few months, it might be time to seek help. It could be scary to see your child go through periods of high stress, but know that help is available.
How Can Us Help You?
Experienced Therapists
Our processes and quality assurance is led by Dr.Emma Waddington, a UK-trained senior clinician psychologist and Founder of Us Therapy, with over 20+ years of experience in helping individuals in Singapore.
Holistic & Personalised Approach
Our clinicians draw from various therapeutic models to create a holistic approach. At Us, we have seen hundreds of clients and we recognise that each individual is unique. Our approach is tailored to you but always includes customised treatment plans and integrative techniques.
Thorough Assessment
At Us, we pride ourselves on our comprehensive assessment processes. We will undergo a thorough assessment process with you in your first sessions before we come up with a plan for your therapy.
Our Therapists
What To Expect
Initial Consultation – A Space to Be Heard
The first session is all about getting to know you. It is a conversation—one where you can share what is been on your mind, what has been feeling difficult, and what you would like support with. Your therapist will ask questions about your background, experiences, and goals, but there is no pressure to answer any questions—just a safe space to begin.
Questionnaires & Onboarding Surveys – Understanding the Full Picture
To help tailor therapy to your needs, you may be asked to fill out some brief questionnaires before or after your first session. These can give insight into things like mood, stress levels, relationship patterns, or coping strategies. They are not tests—just tools to help your therapist understand how best to support you.
Individual Therapy Sessions – Your Journey at Your Own Pace
Each session is a step forward in your journey. Therapy is not just about talking—it is about discovering new ways to navigate life’s challenges, make sense of emotions, and feel like you are getting the most out of your life. Depending on your needs, sessions may focus on:
- Exploring patterns of thought and behavior
- Understanding past experiences and their impact on the present
- Developing practical coping tools
- Strengthening emotional resilience
Feedback Sessions – Reflecting and Adjusting
After the first few sessions (or after assessments), a feedback session provides space to reflect on how therapy is going. This is a chance to talk about what has been helpful, what you would like more of, and how therapy can continue to best serve you.
Intervention – The Heart of Therapy
Intervention is where meaningful change happens. Every therapy journey is unique, and the approach will be shaped around what works best for you. Some common approaches include:
🌱 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – Helping to identify and shift unhelpful thought patterns, reduce anxiety, and develop healthier ways to cope and new patterns of behaviour.
🧠 Schema Therapy – Deep, transformational work to uncover long-standing patterns that might be keeping you stuck, often rooted in early life experiences.
💙 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – Learning to handle difficult emotions with self-compassion and move towards what truly matters in life.
🌊 Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) – A powerful approach for healing trauma and distressing memories, helping the brain reprocess them in a way that feels less overwhelming.
🧘 Mindfulness-Based Approaches – Building self-awareness, grounding techniques, and ways to manage stress and emotions with greater ease.
Fees
Individual Counselling Rates
Clinician type
Fees and Duration
Clinic Founder
$310
Principal Psychologist
$290
Senior Clinical Psychologist
$262
Educational Psychologist
$262
Clinical Psychologist
$236
Counsellor
$170
Expressive Arts Therapist
$170
Associate Psychologist
$130
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FAQs About Educational Stress
What is the definition of Educational Stress?
What causes stress in students?
Educational stress is likely the result of several factors:
- Pressure to success > fear of failure
- Heavy competition among peers
- Social media exacerbates the pressure to succeed
- Lack of social support
- Excessive workload – students are juggling responsibilities from home, school, peers