do teens have stress?

[toph99]

i realized today that most adults don't think that teens have any stress. i have a slight problem which i believe to be a stress issue(either that or sun, long story) and when i told my mother my theory, she just laughed and said "like you have any stress". do you adults think that teens have stress at or above what regular adults would have? just curious

 

[Noriaki]

Well I'm 20 years old.

I have had a very very unstressful life, but I think that most teenagers have a very stressful time.

Not "I don't have any money to pay the bills" adult type stress. But there are lots of things that can stress out a younger person.

 

[JayPatel]

i personally think that teens have more unrealized stress than most adults have..

 

[Electric Amish]

I didn't have much stress as a teenager.

Any stress that a teenager has is, *probably*, self-induced. Trying to "Fit-in" or "Be cool". I never worried about it, so the little stress I had was just do to school work.

amish

 

[Pretender]

Of cource we have stress. It's just that the things that we stress about aren't as important as the things that cause adults stress.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

teenagers have tons of stress, atleast those who are trying to goto a University of their choice. They are stressed to get the high marks in high school so they will be accepted into Uni. I'm working my ass of to get a 90+% average so I can get into Computer Engineering!

 

[yakko]

No. They have hormones which are worse.

 

[The Dancing Peacock]

social stress is still stress. You're asking a bunch of ppl who are older and realize that the stresses of adulthood are more serious. But in your eyes, one of the most serious things is whether that hot girl in your Geometry class likes you, and whether you'll hang out with the "cool people" this weekend. It's still stress b/c it's something you think about and worry about. So yes, you can definitely be stressed, but remember as you get older, the stresses in your life become more serious, so you need to learn to deal with things like that easily so you can cope with the serious stuff in adulthood.


late.


TDP

 

[Total Refected Power]

I believe everyone has stress to a certain degree but generalized teen-stress is viewed as being pale in comparison to adult stress. Adults are worried about their careers, paying the bills, saving for college and retirement, their own health, the health and well-being of their children, the welfare of their aging parents, the general satifaction in their life and even their own mortality.

While some teens are truly troubled many are concerned with things that are minimized by adults in comparison to the adult problems. Wondering why Mikey didn't call or why Mandy didn't invite me to the party feels trivial compared to worrying about grandma who has cancer. Academics are always time-consuming and stressful but that is a teens only job! If I had to trade I would in a second.

 

[stonerdave]

hell yes they are...

A recent study by researchers at the University of Michigan (U-M), The Panel Study on Income Dynamics, Child Development Supplement, reported in the May 1999 issue of American Demographics, showed that in 1997, children ages 12 and under spent about 30 minutes less per day, on average, in unstructured play and outdoor activities, compared to kids in 1981. Even plain old free time-the time left over after eating, sleeping, and school-decreased from 40 percent to 25 percent of a child's day, the study said.

well, the article goes into detail as to what marketers describe as 'kids are gettng older younger' (KAGOY << stupid acronyms). read the rest of the article, if you wish.

Link

 

[thelanx]

Are you kidding? Of course teens have stress!

 

[Azraele]

Teens are under incredible stress, however, the adults tend to see the stress of paying bills, working, raising kids, etc and probably think that teens don't yet know what &quot;real&quot; stress is.

This is the reasoning, however, stress is when the body's ability to cope is exceeded by the pressures exerted upon it. Stress is stress regardles of age.

 

[LadyNiniane]

Toph99, yes, I believe that teens have stress, and I think that it is as important as adult stress is (or should be treated as such).

Teens stress over things that adults frequently discount, but that doesn't mean the things are any less important. Teens also stress over many of the same things that adults stress over (and often compound their own problems with worries about things that are affecting their parents, i.e., job loss, drug/alcohol problems, divorce). Adults don't make it any easier for teens by laughing it off or trying to deny that the stress is there.

Not my style, either - my kids have always said that I ask way too many questions about &quot;what's bothering them&quot; - but my son does come and ask my opinion about things (now that he's graduated from HS and realizes that parental units do have some sense :Q ).

You may want to approach your mother again about the problem, but this time, start with an explanation of your symptoms and your concerns. It is possible that your mother saw your comments as a generalized &quot;theory of life&quot; idea, rather than a specific complaint about a problem involving yourself. (Still wasn't a real good idea to laugh about it, IMO, but some people don't always think first.)

If you get no help there, check with a trusted school counselor or teacher, or talk with your religious mentor (if you have one). Anything that is serious enough for you to worry about should be dealt with, not laughed off.

Lady Niniane

 

[Electric Amish]

Apparently my teenage years were atypical.

I had half-a-dozen guys I hung out with. Could give a fvck less what everyone else thought. I didn't go to ANY dances or social functions. I didn't struggle with school work which included AP Literature, AP Physics, AP Chemistry, AP History, and Calculus. Still graduated with a 3.85 GPA and in the top 10% of my class of 800. Got a 1yr scholarship. Plus I held a job after school for 2 of the 3 years. I didn't think it was stressful at all.

amish

 

[LAUST]

I thought I had some stress when I was a teenager... Yea right wait till you have a morgage and your company has lay-off's and things like that, then you know what stress is.

 

[V]

I think teens and adults have teh same amount of stress.

 

[Total Refected Power]

I thought I had some stress when I was a teenager... Yea right wait till you have a morgage and your company has lay-off's and things like that, then you know what stress is.

It is difficult to parse &quot;perceived&quot; stress versus &quot;real-stress&quot; because they have the same result on the body and mind. Being an adult I agree that teen stress looks &quot;silly&quot; but I am sure to them it feels just as real. That said having been a teen and now an adult I'd take the teen-stress anyday.

 

[PMFleXXX]

yeah, especcially if you go to a competitive school

 

[GeekDrew]

hmmm...good question

Being 16 years old, I think that I have a ton of stress. I've always been a good student in school, until recently. I need to bring my grades back up...

I'm also in a situation that is very dangerous for some people...it's even possible that I could lose my life (according to one former &quot;friend&quot;, if he got his way). At best, I would lose the majority of my friends.

Think that is stressful, or not???
I sure as heck do!

 

[BruinEd03]

errr of course teens have stress...if nothing else take a look at the teens applying to college...then like me attending college (I'm still 19)...I've also had to go apt. hunting this year which is not fun as it is...while worrying about finals. Not to mention with the economic slow down it's a b*tch tryin' to find a summer internship even for EE majors like me. So yes...teens do have stress.

-Ed

 

[Syborg1211]

I'm 16, and my stress level right now is so high. Right now I am getting the worst grades I have ever had in my life and did anyone see my thread about my current love problem. Now, this is stress.

 

[Barrak]

I am 30, I think I can relate to your mom. Its not that she doesnt think you have stress, its just that the stress she has now is so much worse to her then stress she had at your age. Things like &quot;I hope they like me&quot; and &quot;do these pant make me look like a dork&quot; just seem trivial to her.

 

[amb#cog]

I'm 29 myself, but still remeber being a teen.

Do they have stress? YES
That simple.

Your mom obviously either forgets being a teen, or just is trying to get away from your argument. Of course they have stress. I have friends w/ kids, and they come home w/ a lot more homework then I ever had, even on the worst nights.

God I could list reasons for hours why teens would be stressed:
Hormonal changes
School shootings
Wanting to fit in
Balancing school, friends, chores, jobs, after school stuff like sports clubs, etc.
Curfews
Just getting your license
Wanting, or avoiding sex
Wanting, or avoiding drugs/drinking (same damn thing IMO)
And on, and on, and on..................

 

[Ariel]

Yes, but I believe that everyone has stress. It just changes as you go through life. When you are a teen you usually stress about school, grades, fitting in, image issues, getting a g/f or b/f etc. Most teens don't have to deal with what most adults have stress over - things like mortgage payments, bills, food, supporting a family etc. Also, most adults no longer stress about fitting in, image issues etc. I think stress evolves (changes) as you grow.