Exam stress may increase risk of depression and self-harm

The negative impact of academic pressure on mood and overall wellbeing was already known. However, this time researchers examined its long-term mental health consequences.

Scientists at University College London (UCL) analyzed data from nearly 5,000 young people born in 1991–1992 who were participating in a long-term national study. At age 15, participants completed questionnaires about the academic pressure they felt at school. Their mental health was tracked between ages 16 and 22, and incidents of self-harm were recorded until age 24.

The findings were published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. The study found that adolescents who, at 15, worried more about schoolwork or faced higher academic expectations from their families later reported higher levels of depression and episodes of self-harm in subsequent years.

According to the calculations, each additional point increase in academic pressure at age 15 raised the likelihood of depression at age 16 by 25% and the risk of self-harm by 8%. This effect continued into the early twenties.

In addition, every one-point increase in school stress was associated with a 16% higher likelihood that 24-year-olds would report having attempted suicide at least once in their lives.

The study’s lead author, Professor Gemma Lewis, professor of psychiatric epidemiology at UCL, said that young people identify academic pressure as one of their main sources of stress. According to her, a certain level of pressure may be motivating, but excessive burden can harm mental health.

The report emphasizes that schools should not limit their response to teaching students how to cope with stress. Instead, whole-school approaches aimed at reducing exam stress should be implemented. Programs that strengthen social and emotional skills, relaxation techniques and reducing the number of high-stakes exams are recommended.

Families are advised to reduce academic pressure and encourage physical activity, socialization and adequate sleep.

The Guardian notes that these findings align with last year’s research by Young Minds. In that study, nearly two-thirds of 15- to 18-year-olds said they struggled to cope in the run-up to GCSE and A-level exams. A quarter reported experiencing panic attacks, two-fifths said their mental health had worsened, and one in eight said they had self-harmed or experienced suicidal thoughts.

Dr Sam Jones from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health stated that the findings reflect broader social and systemic pressures affecting children’s wellbeing. According to him, there has been an increase in mental health problems among children and young people, and national-level measures are needed to improve the situation.

Children’s Commissioner Rachel de Souza also stressed the importance of building earlier intervention mechanisms in schools. She said specialized services should be organized around schools without waiting for children to reach crisis point.

A government spokesperson said the aim is both to encourage academic achievement and to help pupils manage stress. It was stated that access to mental health professionals in schools is being expanded and that an additional 900,000 pupils will benefit from this support this year.