How to Help Students Handle Academic Pressure in Times of Stress?

From the first days until graduation, the student journey is paved with excitement, discovery and challenges. To name a few: going through the information overload of the onboarding process, leaving home, adapting to a new learning environment with more autonomy, taking exams, facing academic pressure, looking for internships… 

In our Student Engagement Hub, we provide all the resources you need to guide your students through times of stress, help them succeed, and keep them engaged throughout their studies.

The Impact of Stress and Pressure on Student Engagement and Mental Health

Stress and academic pressure are often two of the main reasons why students drop out¹. Indeed, research shows that feeling overwhelming stress actually reduces motivation to do the work, impacts overall academic achievements and increases the odds of dropping out. Stress also causes, in some cases, health issues such as anxiety and depression. 

Here are a few key stats around the world regarding academic pressure and stress in higher education:

• 45% of United Kingdom students report feeling stressed by their course²
• In the US, 41% of students enrolled in a post-secondary education program have considered “stopping out”, and 55% of them are citing emotional stress as a reason why³

So how can you reduce student stress to improve their experience and engagement?

How to Keep Students Engaged Through Times of Stress

In our Hub, you will find many resources to learn how to best support your students through times of stress and keep them engaged. One of them is our infographic “Support Your Students Through Stressful Times Step by Step”.

Download it to learn how to: 

• Guide new students through orientation 
• Support students through stressful times like back-to-school, exam periods, finding an internship…
• Help students prepare for their professional career

Download Infographic

¹ The Jed Foundation 

² 50 Current Student Stress Statistics: 2023 Data, Analysis & Predictions

³  Gallup and Lumina Foundation Study