Australian study shows gifted girls are more likely to suffer from exam stress

Exams are a stressful time for anyone, not least younger students. The pressure on youngsters to succeed in today’s competitive marketplace is phenomenal and many kids suffer enormously during exam periods. You might expect girls and boys to be equally affected by exam stress but, interestingly, it’s the girls who suffer the most.

Australian Research Results

Research carried out by academics in New South Wales found that gifted female Year 12 students striving for the highest marks in the end of High School exams tended to suffer the highest levels of stress and anxiety. As a result, researchers are warning that the High School Certificate examinations are now the most stressful experience of many teenagers’ lives.

722 students from schools across Sydney were studied. 6 per cent of the students reported severe levels of anxiety and 37 per cent above average levels of exam stress. Worryingly, more than 50 per cent of the students in the study felt that they were under too much pressure to perform, with gifted students (in particular girls) under a lot of self-inflicted pressure to achieve high results.

One of the researchers reported that many students suffered sleep problems in the run up to exams, or felt so overwhelmed by the work they had to do that they chose to tackle chores rather than revise. So how can you spot the signs of stress in your child, and what’s the best way to deal with exam stress?

The Signs of Exam Stress

Sleep problems – Having problems sleeping is a classic sign of stress. If your teenager is struggling to get up in the morning and appears gray-faced and hollow eyed, they are probably suffering from exam related stress.
Disrupted eating habits – Kids may overeat or under eat, depending how they handle stress. Look out for signs that your teen is comfort eating or skipping meals, and talk to them in a non-confrontational way.
Low Mood – Teenagers are prone to depression, but be alive to the signs of low mood or serious depression so you can deal with it before it becomes a major problem.

Preventing Exam Stress

There is no doubt that exams are stressful for kids, but there is a lot you can do to prevent your teenager from suffering unduly. Most kids accept that they put too much pressure on themselves to do well, but parents come a close second in this regard.

Try not to place too much pressure on your kids. Exams are not a barometer of future success and plenty of children do exceptionally well in later life having failed school exams. Reassure your kids that whatever happens, you love them unconditionally, no matter how well (or not) they do in their end of year exams. Remind them that it isn’t the end of the world if they don’t get the results they want.

For some self-help tips on how to deal with anxiety and stress, look at online resources such as unstressyourself.com