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Journalism of Courage
In today’s competitive landscape, the word ‘exam’ evokes a lot of stress, tension, and anxiety. This isn’t just limited to college or university students; young teens also experience fear around results day. According to a 2022 NCERT survey, roughly 80% of students suffer from exam and result anxiety. While exam stress is a global phenomenon, it impacts students across all educational systems.
For some students, moderate stress can be motivating. However, for others, it can spiral into negativity, affecting their overall mental well-being. So, let’s explore the effects of exam results anxiety on children’s mental health and how to address them.
While worry and anxiety are normal before receiving exam results, excessive levels can be detrimental. “Students often experience significant anxiety while waiting, which can negatively affect their physical well-being, leading to sleep problems, weight loss, and feelings of hopelessness. Furthermore, excessive exam result anxiety can take a toll on mental health, causing social and behavioral issues, poor academic performance, temper outbursts, unhealthy self-care habits, and low self-esteem,” Chetan Jaiswal, founder, CEO, MyPeegu, tells indianexpress.com.
Therefore, adopting key strategies to manage stress and anxiety is crucial for a child’s mental health and well-being.
Open and honest communication: Anxiety can lead to unpredictable behaviour in students, making it difficult to read their cues. This is where parents and teachers need to remain calm and positive, regardless of the results. Open and honest conversations are essential. Help children understand that exam results don’t define their worth or future success. Encourage them to focus on their study efforts, not just the outcome, to alleviate exam-related stress and anxiety.
Avoid comparisons: Comparing oneself to others only fuels anxiety and self-doubt. Every student has unique strengths and weaknesses. Focus on constant improvement, not comparisons. Learn from past mistakes and move forward.
Maintain daily routine and stay active: Staying active and maintaining a daily routine can significantly reduce stress and promote a sense of normalcy. To manage exam result anxiety, children should maintain a balanced diet and engage in physical activities like exercise or hobbies that release endorphins and improve mood. Additionally, relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or meditation can help calm the mind and alleviate tension.
Minimise negative thoughts: While parents and teachers can help young minds cope with stress, it’s up to the children to avoid unnecessary speculation about the future. Replace negative thoughts with positive affirmations. Cultivate a mindset that acknowledges both achievements and areas for improvement.
Seek support: In today’s fast-paced world, seeking support shouldn’t be a hesitation. Bottling up stress and anxiety can be detrimental. Getting professional help is a crucial step in dealing with the impact of exam results on children’s mental health.
