Understanding the stress around exams and how to combat it: a guide for parents and students Premium

Examination stress among students and parents is a growing concern, but multi-pronged solutions are available, say experts.

Stress related to examinations among students and their parents has become a growing concern for mental health professionals. As performance pressure mounts, many students struggle with anxiety, fear of failure, sleep disturbances, frustration and poor concentration. These signs are worrying but there is no single solution to do away with the exam-related stress -- only a multi-pronged approach can help, say experts.

Sivabalan Elangovan, a psychiatrist based in Chennai, said that parents, most often, complain that their children are not taking their exams seriously, are not studying, not following their schedules, are always on their mobile phones, and do not wake up early to study.

“Parents complain that children do not care enough to put in the required effort towards exams. They also complain that students procrastinate all the time, and then try to cram a lot of material just during the exam,” V. Venkatesh Mathan Kumar, psychiatrist, Institute of Mental Health, Chennai pointed out.

Apart from the many factors that bother parents during exams, are the stressors that students face.

“Many students face a form of emotional blackmail by parents,” Dr. Elangovan said, adding: “The parents talk about their hardships and the money spent on education. When this happens, the fear of not succeeding in meeting their expectations increases in the children. This fear leads to low self-esteem, guilt, poor concentration, sleeplessness and stress as exams near.”

Preparing for examinations is no longer simple. Dr. Elangovan observed that as per the pattern now, students prepare for two examinations simultaneously: their board exams as well as entrance examinations. “They go to school, tuititions, study at home and attend separate coaching classes for entrance examinations too. There is no “me” time left. They follow a schedule designed by others -- their parents, their tutors and school. They do not have an individual style of learning,” he said.

How does this stress manifest physically and mentally? Dr. Kumar explained: “In the physical realm, the stress is like carrying a stone-filled knapsack on their shoulders. Overwhelming is the apt word for most students.” There are issues of sleep disturbance, fatigue, apprehension, fear and not being able to anticipate what is on the anvil, he added.