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No doubt about it, school is stressful. Academic deadlines, worrying about grades, pressure from parents and teachers, and juggling these challenges with your other responsibilities can leave you feeling frazzled and anxious.
The bad news is that all this stress can take a toll on your health, happiness, relationships, and grades. The good news is that learning to utilize some effective stress management strategies for students can help you tame these anxieties and keep your stress at manageable levels—even during midterms and finals.
At a GlanceMost students experience significant amounts of stress. This can significantly affect your academic performance, social life, and well-being. Learning stress management techniques can help you avoid negative effects in these areas. Strategies that can help include:Getting enough sleepUsing guided imageryExercise regularlyPracticing deep breathingUsing progressive muscle relaxationListening to musicFinding social supportEating a healthy dietEliminating sources of stressTrying mindfulnessLet’s take a closer look at why stress management is so important for students and what you can do to get a handle on the stress in your life.
At a Glance
Most students experience significant amounts of stress. This can significantly affect your academic performance, social life, and well-being. Learning stress management techniques can help you avoid negative effects in these areas. Strategies that can help include:Getting enough sleepUsing guided imageryExercise regularlyPracticing deep breathingUsing progressive muscle relaxationListening to musicFinding social supportEating a healthy dietEliminating sources of stressTrying mindfulnessLet’s take a closer look at why stress management is so important for students and what you can do to get a handle on the stress in your life.
Most students experience significant amounts of stress. This can significantly affect your academic performance, social life, and well-being. Learning stress management techniques can help you avoid negative effects in these areas. Strategies that can help include:
Let’s take a closer look at why stress management is so important for students and what you can do to get a handle on the stress in your life.
Why Stress Management Is Important for Students
Roughly 30% of the teens reported feeling overwhelmed, depressed, or sad because of their stress.According to one Pew Research Center report, 70% of teens view anxiety and depression as major problems for people their age.
Stress can also affect health-related behaviors. Stressed students are more likely to have problems with disrupted sleep, poor diet, and lack of exercise. This is understandable given that nearly half of APA survey respondents reported completing three hours of homework per night in addition to their full day of school work and extracurriculars.
Why Are College Students So Depressed?
Common Causes of Student Stress
Another study found that much of high school students' stress originates from school and activities, and that this chronic stress can persist into college years and lead to academic disengagement and mental health problems.
Top Student StressorsCommon sources of student stress include:SchoolHomeworkExtracurricular activitiesSocial challengesTransitions (e.g., graduating,moving out, living independently)RelationshipsPressure to succeedWorkWorld events
Top Student Stressors
Common sources of student stress include:SchoolHomeworkExtracurricular activitiesSocial challengesTransitions (e.g., graduating,moving out, living independently)RelationshipsPressure to succeedWorkWorld events
Common sources of student stress include:
Among High School Students
High school students face the intense competitiveness of taking challenging courses, amassing impressive extracurriculars, studying and acing college placement tests, and deciding on important and life-changing plans for their future. At the same time, they have to navigate the social challenges inherent to the high school experience.
Among College Students
This stress continues if students decide to attend college. Stress is an unavoidable part of life, but research has found that increased daily stressors put college-aged young adults at a higher risk for stress than other age groups.
Making new friends, handling a more challenging workload, feeling pressured to succeed, being without parental support, and navigating the stresses of more independent living are all added challenges that make this transition more difficult.Romantic relationships always add an extra layer of potential stress.
Students often recognize that they need torelieve stress. However, all the activities and responsibilities that fill a student’s schedule sometimes make it difficult to find the time to try new stress relievers to help dissipate that stress.
10 Stress Management Techniques for Students
Here you will learn 10 stress management techniques for students. These options are relatively easy, quick, and relevant to a student’s life andtypes of stress.
1Get Enough SleepBlend Images - Hill Street Studios / Brand X Pictures / Getty ImagesStudents, with their packed schedules, are notorious for missing sleep. Unfortunately, operating in a sleep-deprived state puts you at a distinct disadvantage. You’re less productive, may find it more difficult to learn, and may even be a hazard behind the wheel.Research suggests that sleep deprivation and daytime sleepiness are also linked to impaired mood, higher risk for car accidents, lower grade point averages, worse learning, and a higher risk of academic failure.Don’t neglect your sleep schedule. Aim to get at least 8 hours a night and takepower napswhen needed.How Does a Lack of Sleep Affect Your Mental Health?
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Get Enough SleepBlend Images - Hill Street Studios / Brand X Pictures / Getty ImagesStudents, with their packed schedules, are notorious for missing sleep. Unfortunately, operating in a sleep-deprived state puts you at a distinct disadvantage. You’re less productive, may find it more difficult to learn, and may even be a hazard behind the wheel.Research suggests that sleep deprivation and daytime sleepiness are also linked to impaired mood, higher risk for car accidents, lower grade point averages, worse learning, and a higher risk of academic failure.Don’t neglect your sleep schedule. Aim to get at least 8 hours a night and takepower napswhen needed.How Does a Lack of Sleep Affect Your Mental Health?
Get Enough Sleep
Blend Images - Hill Street Studios / Brand X Pictures / Getty Images
Students, with their packed schedules, are notorious for missing sleep. Unfortunately, operating in a sleep-deprived state puts you at a distinct disadvantage. You’re less productive, may find it more difficult to learn, and may even be a hazard behind the wheel.
Research suggests that sleep deprivation and daytime sleepiness are also linked to impaired mood, higher risk for car accidents, lower grade point averages, worse learning, and a higher risk of academic failure.
Don’t neglect your sleep schedule. Aim to get at least 8 hours a night and takepower napswhen needed.
How Does a Lack of Sleep Affect Your Mental Health?
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Use Guided Imagery
David Malan / Getty Images
Guided imagerycan also be a useful and effective tool to help stressed students cope with academic, social, and other stressors.Visualizationscan help you calm down, detach from what’s stressing you, and reduce your body’s stress response.
Consider trying a guided imagery app if you need extra help visualizing a scene and inducting a relaxation response. Research suggests that such tools might be an affordable and convenient way to reduce stress.
Best Guided Meditations
3Exercise RegularlyFatCamera / Getty ImagesOne of the healthiest ways to blow off steam is to getregular exercise. Evidence indicates that students who participate in regular physical activity report lower levels of perceived stress.While these students still grapple with the same social, academic, and life pressures as their less-active peers, these challengesfeelless stressful and are easier to manage.Finding time for exercise might be a challenge, but there are strategies that you can use to add more physical activity to your day. Some ideas that you might try include:Doingyogain the morningWalking or biking to classReviewing for tests with a friend while walking on a treadmill at the gymTaking an elective gym class focused on leisure sports or exerciseJoining an intramural sportRecapExercise can help buffer against the negative effects of student stress. Starting now and keeping a regular exercise practice throughout your lifetime can help you live longer and enjoy your life more.The Mental Health Benefits of Physical Exercise
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Exercise RegularlyFatCamera / Getty ImagesOne of the healthiest ways to blow off steam is to getregular exercise. Evidence indicates that students who participate in regular physical activity report lower levels of perceived stress.While these students still grapple with the same social, academic, and life pressures as their less-active peers, these challengesfeelless stressful and are easier to manage.Finding time for exercise might be a challenge, but there are strategies that you can use to add more physical activity to your day. Some ideas that you might try include:Doingyogain the morningWalking or biking to classReviewing for tests with a friend while walking on a treadmill at the gymTaking an elective gym class focused on leisure sports or exerciseJoining an intramural sportRecapExercise can help buffer against the negative effects of student stress. Starting now and keeping a regular exercise practice throughout your lifetime can help you live longer and enjoy your life more.The Mental Health Benefits of Physical Exercise
Exercise Regularly
FatCamera / Getty Images
One of the healthiest ways to blow off steam is to getregular exercise. Evidence indicates that students who participate in regular physical activity report lower levels of perceived stress.
While these students still grapple with the same social, academic, and life pressures as their less-active peers, these challengesfeelless stressful and are easier to manage.
Finding time for exercise might be a challenge, but there are strategies that you can use to add more physical activity to your day. Some ideas that you might try include:
RecapExercise can help buffer against the negative effects of student stress. Starting now and keeping a regular exercise practice throughout your lifetime can help you live longer and enjoy your life more.
Recap
Exercise can help buffer against the negative effects of student stress. Starting now and keeping a regular exercise practice throughout your lifetime can help you live longer and enjoy your life more.
The Mental Health Benefits of Physical Exercise
4Take Calming BreathsAntonioGuillem / Getty ImagesWhen your body is experiencing a stress response, you’re often not thinking as clearly as you could be. You are also likely not breathing properly. You might be taking short, shallow breaths. When you breathe improperly, it upsets the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your body.Studies suggest this imbalance can contribute to various physical symptoms, including increased anxiety, fatigue, stress, emotional problems, and panic attacks.A quick way to calm down is to practicebreathing exercises. These can be done virtually anywhere to relieve stress in minutes.Because they are fast-acting, breathing exercises are a great way to cope with moments ofacute stress, such as right before an exam or presentation. But they can also help manage longer-lasting stress such as dealing with relationships, work, or financial problems.Evaporate Stress Fast With Breathing Exercises
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Take Calming BreathsAntonioGuillem / Getty ImagesWhen your body is experiencing a stress response, you’re often not thinking as clearly as you could be. You are also likely not breathing properly. You might be taking short, shallow breaths. When you breathe improperly, it upsets the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your body.Studies suggest this imbalance can contribute to various physical symptoms, including increased anxiety, fatigue, stress, emotional problems, and panic attacks.A quick way to calm down is to practicebreathing exercises. These can be done virtually anywhere to relieve stress in minutes.Because they are fast-acting, breathing exercises are a great way to cope with moments ofacute stress, such as right before an exam or presentation. But they can also help manage longer-lasting stress such as dealing with relationships, work, or financial problems.Evaporate Stress Fast With Breathing Exercises
Take Calming Breaths
AntonioGuillem / Getty Images
When your body is experiencing a stress response, you’re often not thinking as clearly as you could be. You are also likely not breathing properly. You might be taking short, shallow breaths. When you breathe improperly, it upsets the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your body.
Studies suggest this imbalance can contribute to various physical symptoms, including increased anxiety, fatigue, stress, emotional problems, and panic attacks.
A quick way to calm down is to practicebreathing exercises. These can be done virtually anywhere to relieve stress in minutes.
Because they are fast-acting, breathing exercises are a great way to cope with moments ofacute stress, such as right before an exam or presentation. But they can also help manage longer-lasting stress such as dealing with relationships, work, or financial problems.
Evaporate Stress Fast With Breathing Exercises
5Practice Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)Daisy-Daisy / Getty ImagesAnother great stress management technique for students that can be used during tests, before bed, or at other times when stress has you physically wound up is progressive muscle relaxation (PMR).This technique involves tensing and relaxing all muscles until the body is completely relaxed. With practice, you can learn to release stress from your body in seconds.This can be particularly helpful for students because it can be adapted to help relaxation efforts before sleep for a deeper sleep.Once a person learns how to use PMR effectively, it can be a quick and handy way to induce relaxation in any stressful situation, such as bouts of momentary panic before a speech or exam, dealing with a disagreement with your roommate, or preparing to discuss a problem with your academic advisor.
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Practice Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)Daisy-Daisy / Getty ImagesAnother great stress management technique for students that can be used during tests, before bed, or at other times when stress has you physically wound up is progressive muscle relaxation (PMR).This technique involves tensing and relaxing all muscles until the body is completely relaxed. With practice, you can learn to release stress from your body in seconds.This can be particularly helpful for students because it can be adapted to help relaxation efforts before sleep for a deeper sleep.Once a person learns how to use PMR effectively, it can be a quick and handy way to induce relaxation in any stressful situation, such as bouts of momentary panic before a speech or exam, dealing with a disagreement with your roommate, or preparing to discuss a problem with your academic advisor.
Practice Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)
Daisy-Daisy / Getty Images
Another great stress management technique for students that can be used during tests, before bed, or at other times when stress has you physically wound up is progressive muscle relaxation (PMR).
This technique involves tensing and relaxing all muscles until the body is completely relaxed. With practice, you can learn to release stress from your body in seconds.This can be particularly helpful for students because it can be adapted to help relaxation efforts before sleep for a deeper sleep.
Once a person learns how to use PMR effectively, it can be a quick and handy way to induce relaxation in any stressful situation, such as bouts of momentary panic before a speech or exam, dealing with a disagreement with your roommate, or preparing to discuss a problem with your academic advisor.
6
Listen to Music
g-stockstudio / Getty Images
As convenient stress reliever that has also shown many cognitive benefits, music can help relieve stress and calm you down or stimulate your mind depending on what you need in the moment.
Research has found that playing upbeat music can improve processing speed and memory.Stressed students may find that listening to relaxing music can help calm the body and mind. One study found that students who listened to the sounds of relaxing music were able to recover more quickly after a stressful situation.
How to Use Music for Stress Relief
7Build Your Support NetworkHalfpoint Images / Getty ImagesHaving emotional support can help create a protective buffer against stress.Unfortunately,interpersonal relationshipscan also sometimes be a source of anxiety for students. Changes in friendships, romantic breakups, and life transitions such as moving away for college can create significant upheaval and stress for students.One way to combat feelings oflonelinessand make sure that you have people to lean on in times of need is to expand your support network and nurture your relationships.Look for opportunities to meet new people, whether it involves joining study groups or participating in other academic, social, and leisure activities.Remember that different types of relationships offer differingtypes of support. Your relationships with teachers, counselors, and mentors can be a great source of information and resources that may help you academically. Relationships with friends can provide emotional and practical support.RecapWidening your social circle can combat student stress on various fronts and ensure you have what you need to succeed.How Social Support Contributes to Psychological Health
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Build Your Support NetworkHalfpoint Images / Getty ImagesHaving emotional support can help create a protective buffer against stress.Unfortunately,interpersonal relationshipscan also sometimes be a source of anxiety for students. Changes in friendships, romantic breakups, and life transitions such as moving away for college can create significant upheaval and stress for students.One way to combat feelings oflonelinessand make sure that you have people to lean on in times of need is to expand your support network and nurture your relationships.Look for opportunities to meet new people, whether it involves joining study groups or participating in other academic, social, and leisure activities.Remember that different types of relationships offer differingtypes of support. Your relationships with teachers, counselors, and mentors can be a great source of information and resources that may help you academically. Relationships with friends can provide emotional and practical support.RecapWidening your social circle can combat student stress on various fronts and ensure you have what you need to succeed.How Social Support Contributes to Psychological Health
Build Your Support Network
Halfpoint Images / Getty Images
Having emotional support can help create a protective buffer against stress.Unfortunately,interpersonal relationshipscan also sometimes be a source of anxiety for students. Changes in friendships, romantic breakups, and life transitions such as moving away for college can create significant upheaval and stress for students.
One way to combat feelings oflonelinessand make sure that you have people to lean on in times of need is to expand your support network and nurture your relationships.
Look for opportunities to meet new people, whether it involves joining study groups or participating in other academic, social, and leisure activities.
Remember that different types of relationships offer differingtypes of support. Your relationships with teachers, counselors, and mentors can be a great source of information and resources that may help you academically. Relationships with friends can provide emotional and practical support.
RecapWidening your social circle can combat student stress on various fronts and ensure you have what you need to succeed.
Widening your social circle can combat student stress on various fronts and ensure you have what you need to succeed.
How Social Support Contributes to Psychological Health
8Eat a Healthy DietNiedring/Drentwett / Getty ImagesYou may not realize it, but your diet can either boost your brainpower or sap you of mental energy. It can also make you more reactive to the stress in your life.As a result, you might find yourself turning to high-sugar, high-fat snacks to provide a temporary sense of relief.A healthy diet can help combat stress in several ways. Improving your diet can keep you from experiencing diet-related mood swings, light-headedness, and more.Unfortunately, students are often prone to poor dietary habits. Feelings of stress can make it harder to stick to a consistently healthy diet, but other concerns such as finances, access to cooking facilities, and time to prepare healthy meals can make it more challenging for students.Some tactics that can help students make healthy choices include:Eating regularlyCarrying a water bottle to classKeeping healthy snacks such as fruits and nuts handyLimiting caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol intakeHow Your Stress Response Works
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Eat a Healthy DietNiedring/Drentwett / Getty ImagesYou may not realize it, but your diet can either boost your brainpower or sap you of mental energy. It can also make you more reactive to the stress in your life.As a result, you might find yourself turning to high-sugar, high-fat snacks to provide a temporary sense of relief.A healthy diet can help combat stress in several ways. Improving your diet can keep you from experiencing diet-related mood swings, light-headedness, and more.Unfortunately, students are often prone to poor dietary habits. Feelings of stress can make it harder to stick to a consistently healthy diet, but other concerns such as finances, access to cooking facilities, and time to prepare healthy meals can make it more challenging for students.Some tactics that can help students make healthy choices include:Eating regularlyCarrying a water bottle to classKeeping healthy snacks such as fruits and nuts handyLimiting caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol intakeHow Your Stress Response Works
Eat a Healthy Diet
Niedring/Drentwett / Getty Images
You may not realize it, but your diet can either boost your brainpower or sap you of mental energy. It can also make you more reactive to the stress in your life.As a result, you might find yourself turning to high-sugar, high-fat snacks to provide a temporary sense of relief.
A healthy diet can help combat stress in several ways. Improving your diet can keep you from experiencing diet-related mood swings, light-headedness, and more.
Unfortunately, students are often prone to poor dietary habits. Feelings of stress can make it harder to stick to a consistently healthy diet, but other concerns such as finances, access to cooking facilities, and time to prepare healthy meals can make it more challenging for students.
Some tactics that can help students make healthy choices include:
How Your Stress Response Works
9Find Ways to Minimize Stressfizkes / Getty ImagesOne way to improve your ability to manage student stress is to look for ways you cut stress out of your life altogether. Evaluate the things that are bringing stress or anxiety into your life. Are they necessary? Are they providing more benefits than the toll they take on your mental health? If the answer is no, sometimes the best option is just to ditch them altogether.This might mean cutting some extracurricular activities out of your schedule. It might mean limiting your use of social media. Or it might mean learning to say no to requests for your time, energy, and resources.While it might be challenging at first, learning how to prioritize yourself and your mental well-being is an important step toward reducing your stress.How to Reduce Student Stress and Excel in School
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Find Ways to Minimize Stressfizkes / Getty ImagesOne way to improve your ability to manage student stress is to look for ways you cut stress out of your life altogether. Evaluate the things that are bringing stress or anxiety into your life. Are they necessary? Are they providing more benefits than the toll they take on your mental health? If the answer is no, sometimes the best option is just to ditch them altogether.This might mean cutting some extracurricular activities out of your schedule. It might mean limiting your use of social media. Or it might mean learning to say no to requests for your time, energy, and resources.While it might be challenging at first, learning how to prioritize yourself and your mental well-being is an important step toward reducing your stress.How to Reduce Student Stress and Excel in School
Find Ways to Minimize Stress
fizkes / Getty Images
One way to improve your ability to manage student stress is to look for ways you cut stress out of your life altogether. Evaluate the things that are bringing stress or anxiety into your life. Are they necessary? Are they providing more benefits than the toll they take on your mental health? If the answer is no, sometimes the best option is just to ditch them altogether.
This might mean cutting some extracurricular activities out of your schedule. It might mean limiting your use of social media. Or it might mean learning to say no to requests for your time, energy, and resources.
While it might be challenging at first, learning how to prioritize yourself and your mental well-being is an important step toward reducing your stress.
How to Reduce Student Stress and Excel in School
10Try MindfulnessCoffeeAndMilk / Getty ImagesWhen you find yourself dealing with stress—whether it’s due to academics, relationships, financial pressures, or social challenges—becoming more aware of how you feel in the moment may help you respond more effectively.Mindfulnessinvolves becoming more aware of the present moment. Rather than judging, reacting, or avoiding problems, the goal is to focus on the present, become more aware of how you are feeling, observe your reactions, and accept these feelings without passing judgment on them.Research suggests that mindfulness-based stress management practices can be a useful tool for reducing student stress. Such strategies may also help reduce feelings of anxiety and depression.How to Use Positive Self Talk for Stress Reduction
10
Try MindfulnessCoffeeAndMilk / Getty ImagesWhen you find yourself dealing with stress—whether it’s due to academics, relationships, financial pressures, or social challenges—becoming more aware of how you feel in the moment may help you respond more effectively.Mindfulnessinvolves becoming more aware of the present moment. Rather than judging, reacting, or avoiding problems, the goal is to focus on the present, become more aware of how you are feeling, observe your reactions, and accept these feelings without passing judgment on them.Research suggests that mindfulness-based stress management practices can be a useful tool for reducing student stress. Such strategies may also help reduce feelings of anxiety and depression.How to Use Positive Self Talk for Stress Reduction
Try Mindfulness
CoffeeAndMilk / Getty Images
When you find yourself dealing with stress—whether it’s due to academics, relationships, financial pressures, or social challenges—becoming more aware of how you feel in the moment may help you respond more effectively.
Mindfulnessinvolves becoming more aware of the present moment. Rather than judging, reacting, or avoiding problems, the goal is to focus on the present, become more aware of how you are feeling, observe your reactions, and accept these feelings without passing judgment on them.
Research suggests that mindfulness-based stress management practices can be a useful tool for reducing student stress. Such strategies may also help reduce feelings of anxiety and depression.
How to Use Positive Self Talk for Stress Reduction
Takeaways
It is important to remember that stress isn’t the same for everyone. Figuring out what works for you may take some trial and error. A good start is to ensure that you are taking care of yourself physically and emotionally and to experiment with different stress relief strategies to figure out what works best to help you feel less stressed.
If you or a loved one are struggling with anxiety, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
If you or a loved one are struggling with anxiety, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
16 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Stress in America: Are Teens Adopting Adults' Stress Habits?Pew Research Center.Most U.S. teens see anxiety and depression as a major problem among their peers.American Psychological Association.Stress in America 2023.Leonard NR, Gwadz MV, Ritchie A, et al.A multi-method exploratory study of stress, coping, and substance use among high school youth in private schools.Front Psychol.2015;6:1028. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01028Acharya L, Jin L, Collins W.College life is stressful today - Emerging stressors and depressive symptoms in college students.J Am Coll Health. 2018;66(7):655-664. doi:10.1080/07448481.2018.1451869Beiter R, Nash R, McCrady M, Rhoades D, Linscomb M, Clarahan M, Sammut S.The prevalence and correlates of depression, anxiety, and stress in a sample of college students.J Affect Disord. 2015;173:90-6. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2014.10.054Hershner SD, Chervin RD.Causes and consequences of sleepiness among college students.Nat Sci Sleep. 2014;6:73-84. doi:10.2147/NSS.S62907Gordon JS, Sbarra D, Armin J, Pace TWW, Gniady C, Barraza Y.Use of a guided imagery mobile app (See Me Serene) to reduce COVID-19-related stress: Pilot feasibility study.JMIR Form Res. 2021;5(10):e32353. doi:10.2196/32353Cowley J, Kiely J, Collins D.Is there a link between self-perceived stress and physical activity levels in Scottish adolescents?Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2017;31(1). doi:10.1515/ijamh-2016-0104Harrison OK, Köchli L, Marino S, et al.Interoception of breathing and its relationship with anxiety.Neuron. 2021;109(24):4080-4093.e8. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2021.09.045Toussaint L, Nguyen QA, Roettger C, Dixon K, Offenbächer M, Kohls N, Hirsch J, Sirois F.Effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing, and guided imagery in promoting psychological and physiological states of relaxation.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021;2021:5924040. doi:10.1155/2021/5924040.Bottiroli S, Rosi A, Russo R, Vecchi T, Cavallini E.The cognitive effects of listening to background music on older adults: processing speed improves with upbeat music, while memory seems to benefit from both upbeat and downbeat music.Front Aging Neurosci. 2014;6:284. doi:10.3389/fnagi.2014.00284Thoma MV, La Marca R, Brönnimann R, Finkel L, Ehlert U, Nater UM.The effect of music on the human stress response.PLoS ONE. 2013;8(8):e70156. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0070156American Psychological Association.Manage stress: Strengthen your support network.Di Polito N, Stylianakis AA, Richardson R, Baker KD.Real-world intake of dietary sugars is associated with reduced cortisol reactivity following an acute physiological stressor.Nutrients. 2023;15(1):209. doi:10.3390/nu15010209Parsons D, Gardner P, Parry S, Smart S.Mindfulness-based approaches for managing stress, anxiety and depression for health students in tertiary education: A scoping review.Mindfulness (N Y). 2022;13(1):1-16. doi:10.1007/s12671-021-01740-3
16 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Stress in America: Are Teens Adopting Adults' Stress Habits?Pew Research Center.Most U.S. teens see anxiety and depression as a major problem among their peers.American Psychological Association.Stress in America 2023.Leonard NR, Gwadz MV, Ritchie A, et al.A multi-method exploratory study of stress, coping, and substance use among high school youth in private schools.Front Psychol.2015;6:1028. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01028Acharya L, Jin L, Collins W.College life is stressful today - Emerging stressors and depressive symptoms in college students.J Am Coll Health. 2018;66(7):655-664. doi:10.1080/07448481.2018.1451869Beiter R, Nash R, McCrady M, Rhoades D, Linscomb M, Clarahan M, Sammut S.The prevalence and correlates of depression, anxiety, and stress in a sample of college students.J Affect Disord. 2015;173:90-6. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2014.10.054Hershner SD, Chervin RD.Causes and consequences of sleepiness among college students.Nat Sci Sleep. 2014;6:73-84. doi:10.2147/NSS.S62907Gordon JS, Sbarra D, Armin J, Pace TWW, Gniady C, Barraza Y.Use of a guided imagery mobile app (See Me Serene) to reduce COVID-19-related stress: Pilot feasibility study.JMIR Form Res. 2021;5(10):e32353. doi:10.2196/32353Cowley J, Kiely J, Collins D.Is there a link between self-perceived stress and physical activity levels in Scottish adolescents?Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2017;31(1). doi:10.1515/ijamh-2016-0104Harrison OK, Köchli L, Marino S, et al.Interoception of breathing and its relationship with anxiety.Neuron. 2021;109(24):4080-4093.e8. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2021.09.045Toussaint L, Nguyen QA, Roettger C, Dixon K, Offenbächer M, Kohls N, Hirsch J, Sirois F.Effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing, and guided imagery in promoting psychological and physiological states of relaxation.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021;2021:5924040. doi:10.1155/2021/5924040.Bottiroli S, Rosi A, Russo R, Vecchi T, Cavallini E.The cognitive effects of listening to background music on older adults: processing speed improves with upbeat music, while memory seems to benefit from both upbeat and downbeat music.Front Aging Neurosci. 2014;6:284. doi:10.3389/fnagi.2014.00284Thoma MV, La Marca R, Brönnimann R, Finkel L, Ehlert U, Nater UM.The effect of music on the human stress response.PLoS ONE. 2013;8(8):e70156. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0070156American Psychological Association.Manage stress: Strengthen your support network.Di Polito N, Stylianakis AA, Richardson R, Baker KD.Real-world intake of dietary sugars is associated with reduced cortisol reactivity following an acute physiological stressor.Nutrients. 2023;15(1):209. doi:10.3390/nu15010209Parsons D, Gardner P, Parry S, Smart S.Mindfulness-based approaches for managing stress, anxiety and depression for health students in tertiary education: A scoping review.Mindfulness (N Y). 2022;13(1):1-16. doi:10.1007/s12671-021-01740-3
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Psychological Association.Stress in America: Are Teens Adopting Adults' Stress Habits?Pew Research Center.Most U.S. teens see anxiety and depression as a major problem among their peers.American Psychological Association.Stress in America 2023.Leonard NR, Gwadz MV, Ritchie A, et al.A multi-method exploratory study of stress, coping, and substance use among high school youth in private schools.Front Psychol.2015;6:1028. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01028Acharya L, Jin L, Collins W.College life is stressful today - Emerging stressors and depressive symptoms in college students.J Am Coll Health. 2018;66(7):655-664. doi:10.1080/07448481.2018.1451869Beiter R, Nash R, McCrady M, Rhoades D, Linscomb M, Clarahan M, Sammut S.The prevalence and correlates of depression, anxiety, and stress in a sample of college students.J Affect Disord. 2015;173:90-6. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2014.10.054Hershner SD, Chervin RD.Causes and consequences of sleepiness among college students.Nat Sci Sleep. 2014;6:73-84. doi:10.2147/NSS.S62907Gordon JS, Sbarra D, Armin J, Pace TWW, Gniady C, Barraza Y.Use of a guided imagery mobile app (See Me Serene) to reduce COVID-19-related stress: Pilot feasibility study.JMIR Form Res. 2021;5(10):e32353. doi:10.2196/32353Cowley J, Kiely J, Collins D.Is there a link between self-perceived stress and physical activity levels in Scottish adolescents?Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2017;31(1). doi:10.1515/ijamh-2016-0104Harrison OK, Köchli L, Marino S, et al.Interoception of breathing and its relationship with anxiety.Neuron. 2021;109(24):4080-4093.e8. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2021.09.045Toussaint L, Nguyen QA, Roettger C, Dixon K, Offenbächer M, Kohls N, Hirsch J, Sirois F.Effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing, and guided imagery in promoting psychological and physiological states of relaxation.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021;2021:5924040. doi:10.1155/2021/5924040.Bottiroli S, Rosi A, Russo R, Vecchi T, Cavallini E.The cognitive effects of listening to background music on older adults: processing speed improves with upbeat music, while memory seems to benefit from both upbeat and downbeat music.Front Aging Neurosci. 2014;6:284. doi:10.3389/fnagi.2014.00284Thoma MV, La Marca R, Brönnimann R, Finkel L, Ehlert U, Nater UM.The effect of music on the human stress response.PLoS ONE. 2013;8(8):e70156. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0070156American Psychological Association.Manage stress: Strengthen your support network.Di Polito N, Stylianakis AA, Richardson R, Baker KD.Real-world intake of dietary sugars is associated with reduced cortisol reactivity following an acute physiological stressor.Nutrients. 2023;15(1):209. doi:10.3390/nu15010209Parsons D, Gardner P, Parry S, Smart S.Mindfulness-based approaches for managing stress, anxiety and depression for health students in tertiary education: A scoping review.Mindfulness (N Y). 2022;13(1):1-16. doi:10.1007/s12671-021-01740-3
American Psychological Association.Stress in America: Are Teens Adopting Adults' Stress Habits?
Pew Research Center.Most U.S. teens see anxiety and depression as a major problem among their peers.
American Psychological Association.Stress in America 2023.
Leonard NR, Gwadz MV, Ritchie A, et al.A multi-method exploratory study of stress, coping, and substance use among high school youth in private schools.Front Psychol.2015;6:1028. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01028
Acharya L, Jin L, Collins W.College life is stressful today - Emerging stressors and depressive symptoms in college students.J Am Coll Health. 2018;66(7):655-664. doi:10.1080/07448481.2018.1451869
Beiter R, Nash R, McCrady M, Rhoades D, Linscomb M, Clarahan M, Sammut S.The prevalence and correlates of depression, anxiety, and stress in a sample of college students.J Affect Disord. 2015;173:90-6. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2014.10.054
Hershner SD, Chervin RD.Causes and consequences of sleepiness among college students.Nat Sci Sleep. 2014;6:73-84. doi:10.2147/NSS.S62907
Gordon JS, Sbarra D, Armin J, Pace TWW, Gniady C, Barraza Y.Use of a guided imagery mobile app (See Me Serene) to reduce COVID-19-related stress: Pilot feasibility study.JMIR Form Res. 2021;5(10):e32353. doi:10.2196/32353
Cowley J, Kiely J, Collins D.Is there a link between self-perceived stress and physical activity levels in Scottish adolescents?Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2017;31(1). doi:10.1515/ijamh-2016-0104
Harrison OK, Köchli L, Marino S, et al.Interoception of breathing and its relationship with anxiety.Neuron. 2021;109(24):4080-4093.e8. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2021.09.045
Toussaint L, Nguyen QA, Roettger C, Dixon K, Offenbächer M, Kohls N, Hirsch J, Sirois F.Effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing, and guided imagery in promoting psychological and physiological states of relaxation.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021;2021:5924040. doi:10.1155/2021/5924040.
Bottiroli S, Rosi A, Russo R, Vecchi T, Cavallini E.The cognitive effects of listening to background music on older adults: processing speed improves with upbeat music, while memory seems to benefit from both upbeat and downbeat music.Front Aging Neurosci. 2014;6:284. doi:10.3389/fnagi.2014.00284
Thoma MV, La Marca R, Brönnimann R, Finkel L, Ehlert U, Nater UM.The effect of music on the human stress response.PLoS ONE. 2013;8(8):e70156. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0070156
American Psychological Association.Manage stress: Strengthen your support network.
Di Polito N, Stylianakis AA, Richardson R, Baker KD.Real-world intake of dietary sugars is associated with reduced cortisol reactivity following an acute physiological stressor.Nutrients. 2023;15(1):209. doi:10.3390/nu15010209
Parsons D, Gardner P, Parry S, Smart S.Mindfulness-based approaches for managing stress, anxiety and depression for health students in tertiary education: A scoping review.Mindfulness (N Y). 2022;13(1):1-16. doi:10.1007/s12671-021-01740-3
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