They Say: Kids Need To Be Taught To Handle School Stress

Posted by JeanneSager at 4:15 PM on January 14, 2009

Could teens who turn to drugs and alcohol just be plain old stressed?

A new study out of Britain states thirty-six percent of kids who were stressed about exams, peer relationships and the volume of homework turned to drinking to drown their sorrows. Another sixteen percent smoked cigarettes, while six percent used drugs to make the stress go up in a puff of smoke.

The study, presented at the British Psychological Society’s Division of Educational and Child Psychology annual conference, focuses on stress; but I wonder how much time they spent examining these kids’ home lives. Because school is stressful; and not just because of the pressure of impending university applications but because it’s the time when hormones are starting to drive every child a little bit loony!

But handling school stress and turning to drugs are two different things. Where are these kids’ parents? I know that’s often the response when anyone talks about kids on drugs or using alcohol… but that makes it no less of an obvious. I run the risk of sounding like an old fogey here, but in my day, when we started drinking, we did it as much because we could get away with it as we did for any sound psychological reasons. Who answered, “Hey, want a beer and some Skittles?” with “yeah, my teachers are really riding me?”

In university, maybe. But in high school, we didn’t sit around moaning about exam scores when we were drinking. So are kids actually more stressed? Or are they suffering a lack of parental intervention in their lives… which could translate into stress and give them the free time to indulge in vices that more-involved parents are able to weed out?

Image: NPR

Tags:

,

,

,

Comments

There are currently no comments.

 

Post Your Comments

Name:

Email Address:

URL:

Comment:

Strollerderby

Updated daily by the wittiest parents in the blogosphere, Strollerderby provides a scroll of breaking news, spot-on reviews of entertainment and products, and irreverent discussions of hot topics.

Send your tips to strollerderby@babble.com.au.

FameCrawler

Celebrity Sighting: Hugh Jackman Takes Ava Out For Ice Cream

3:15 PM Yeah, no wonder Hugh Jackman’s kids seem to adore him. Not only is he a hands-on dad and always playing with them, he also treats them to ice cream! Hugh was spotted in New York... read more

Rebecca Gayheart Takes Billie For A Checkup

2:15 PM Rebecca and hubby Eric Dane were spotted in Los Angeles yesterday, leaving the paediatrician's office with two-week-old Billie Beatrice in tow. Only two weeks after giving birth... read more

Droolicious

Little New Yorker Onesie

10:45 AM Even if you don't live in New York City, this outfit is sure to create a smile, particularly among mums who love shopping. Perhaps your kid can hail a taxi wearing it? It’... read more

Big Deal: All Kids T-Shirts Are $US12 At Busted Tees

4:30 PM A good way to start thinking positively about a change of season is to start figuring out what kind of awesome t-shirts you’re going to make your kids wear. Today over at Busted... read more
Babble Partners