short essay on parental pressure

The Psychological Impact of Parental Pressure on Kids and Teens

In this article.

Children and teenagers are struggling with mental health challenges like never before, and one factor that often contributes to their difficulties is excessive pressure from well-intentioned but misguided parents. Although it's understandable for parents to want their children to be happy and successful, pushing too hard can have serious negative consequences. This post explores the detrimental effects of parental pressure and offers strategies for providing healthy support and encouragement to help children thrive.

The Mental Health Consequences of Parental Pressure

Research shows that parental pressure, whether direct or indirect, can take a major toll on kids' psychological well-being. Some of the most common effects include:

Depression and negative self-talk. Children who face frequent verbal criticism and unrealistic expectations from parents are at higher risk for depression. [1] They often internalize that criticism, engaging in harsh self-talk like "I'm stupid" or "I'll never be good enough."
Eating disorders and body image issues. Kids and teens whose parents tease them about weight or police their eating habits are more likely to develop disordered eating and poor body image. [2] Even if well-intentioned, comments about appearance send the message that they're being judged.
Academic underperformance. While parents often push kids academically in hopes of motivating them, studies find that children with controlling parents actually tend to do worse in school. [3] Constant pressure saps their intrinsic motivation.
Social withdrawal. When affection and approval are conditional on meeting parental expectations, kids often start to withdraw. They may hide their true feelings, avoid asking for help, and struggle to form close relationships.

Why Parents Resort to Pressure

As damaging as parental pressure is, it usually comes from a place of love and concern. In one study, 86% of parents said they pressured their kids because they wanted to be more attentive than their own distant parents had been. [4] Others feel guilty about upheavals like divorce and try to compensate by pushing their kids to succeed.

Ultimately, most parents simply want the best for their children. But in our achievement-obsessed culture, it's easy to lose sight of what really matters for kids' long-term happiness and well-being. Pushing them to live up to an idealized vision of success often does more harm than good.

Strategies for Healthy Encouragement

So how can you support your child without resorting to unhealthy pressure? Here are some tips to keep in mind:

Praise effort, not just achievements . Instead of only celebrating the "A," praise your child for studying hard or asking questions when confused. This builds confidence in their ability to overcome challenges. [5]
Avoid appearance-based comments . Even "positive" remarks about looks can make kids self-conscious. Focus praise on things like kindness, curiosity, and perseverance instead.[2]
Let them take the lead sometimes . Resist the urge to micromanage. Letting kids make age-appropriate choices builds their sense of autonomy and competence. [6]
Validate their feelings . Remember, your child is a unique individual, not an extension of you. Listen to and acknowledge their perspective, even when it differs from yours. [7]
Set collaborative rules . Kids are more likely to follow rules they had a voice in creating. Make expectations clear and consistent, but leave room for flexibility and discussion.

The Bottom Line

Parental pressure is incredibly common, but that doesn't make it harmless. Pushing your child to live up to rigid standards set by you, rather than supporting them in developing their own identity and goals, can lead to serious mental health issues that persist into adulthood.

The good news is, you have the power to break the cycle. By being mindful of how you communicate with your child, you can create an environment where they feel loved, respected, and empowered to grow into their best selves. It's not always easy, but your relationship with your child is worth the effort.

Common Questions

What is parental pressure.

Parental pressure refers to the emotional stress that parents impose on their children, often related to academic performance, extracurricular activities, social standards, appearance, and relationships. It can be direct (yelling, force) or indirect (guilt-tripping, rigid expectations).

Why do parents put pressure on their kids?

Most parents pressure their kids with good intentions, wanting them to be happy and successful. Some reasons include: wanting to be more attentive than their own distant parents, feeling guilty about life disruptions (divorce, moving), or believing their choices will make their child's life easier or more successful.

What are the mental health consequences of excessive parental pressure?

Children who experience excessive parental pressure may develop:
Depression and negative self-talk
Eating disorders and body image issues
Poor academic performance
Social withdrawal and difficulty maintaining relationships
Anger management problems and aggression

How can I tell if I'm pressuring my child too much?

Signs you might be pressuring your child include:

Frequently criticizing or yelling at them
Setting rigid expectations without their input
Overreacting to mistakes or failures
Withholding affection when they don't meet your standards
Doing their work for them or intervening in their conflicts

What are some healthy ways to encourage my child without pressuring them?

Some strategies for healthy encouragement include:

Praising effort and progress, not just end results
Focusing on character traits, not appearance
Allowing age-appropriate autonomy and choice
Validating their feelings and perspective
Setting clear, consistent rules collaboratively

Can I still have high expectations for my child without pressuring them?

Absolutely. The key is to communicate your expectations clearly and kindly, while also leaving room for your child's input and feelings. Emphasize growth and learning over perfection, and celebrate their efforts along the way.

What if my child is resistant to my encouragement?

If your child seems resistant, it might be a sign that they feel pressured or controlled. Try backing off a bit and focusing on rebuilding trust and connection. Let them know you're there to support them, but also respect their need for space and autonomy.

Where can I go for help if I'm struggling to break the cycle of parental pressure?

If you're having a hard time changing your parenting style, consider reaching out to a therapist or counselor who specializes in family dynamics and child development. They can provide guidance and support as you work on creating a more positive, nurturing relationship with your child.

Wang, M.-T. and Kenny, S. (2014), Longitudinal Links Between Fathers’ and Mothers’ Harsh Verbal Discipline and Adolescents’ Conduct Problems and Depressive Symptoms. Child Dev, 85: 908-923. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12143
Sprague, Stephanie Leigh. “Fat Talk with Parents and Weight Bias in High School and Undergraduate Students.” (2013). https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Fat-Talk-with-Parents-and-Weight-Bias-in-High-and-Sprague/7a020e69316ffea32e7a814f3aeb44b2fbe1d13d
Boggiano, Ann K. and Phyllis A. Katz. “Maladaptive Achievement Patterns in Students: The Role of Teachers' Controlling Strategies.” Journal of Social Issues 47 (1991): 35-51. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Maladaptive-Achievement-Patterns-in-Students%3A-The-Boggiano-Katz/d6ead7339aca2e06bb717d0629329c0d57b5a953
Wolford, Sarah N et al. “Examining Parental Internal Processes Associated with Indulgent Parenting: A Thematic Analysis.” Journal of child and family studies vol. 29,3 (2020): 660-675. doi:10.1007/s10826-019-01612-4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7731216/
Kamins, M. L., & Dweck, C. S. (1999). Person versus process praise. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1999-05027-021
Joussemet, Mireille et al. “Parenting and Self-Determination Theory 1 Running head: Parenting and Self-Determination Theory A Self-Determination Theory Perspective on Parenting.” (2019). https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Parenting-and-Self-Determination-Theory-1-Running-A-Joussemet-Landry/37849173bd575690fde4d00699b5f137fd4c530f
Joussemet, M., et al. (2008). Promoting optimal parenting and children's mental health. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257578835_Promoting_Optimal_Parenting_and_Children's_Mental_Health_A_Preliminary_Evaluation_of_the_How-to_Parenting_Program

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The Dangers of Putting Too Much Pressure on Kids

While it's normal to set high expectations for your children, putting them under too much pressure can be harmful to their mental health.

What Parental Pressure Looks Like

When Pressure Is Harmful
What to Do Instead

Most parents want their children to be the best they can be. However, some caregivers put too much pressure on their kids. Being under such intense pressure can have serious consequences, ranging from mental health problems to lowered self-esteem.

Learn more about the risks of parental pressure and how to motivate your kids without causing distress.

A survey by the Pew Research Center found that 64% of Americans say parents don't put enough pressure on children to do well in school . Some children might be less likely to perform their best if they don't get enough pressure from their parents.

That said, other kids might be under too much pressure. Adults have also expressed concerns that kids today "can't be kids anymore" because they're pressured and expected to constantly perform well—such as getting into the most prestigious schools or getting the best scholarships.

Parental Pressure in Sports and Other Activities

School isn’t the only place where parents put pressure on kids. Parents might also put lofty expectations on their kids to perform well in sports, music, theater, or other activities. "High-pressure parents" might insist that their kids practice constantly and perform well in competitions.

Every parent has a different approach to encouraging their kids. While high expectations can be healthy, placing constant pressure on children can be harmful. When kids feel like each homework assignment is going to make or break their future—or that each soccer game could determine if they get a college scholarship—that pressure can have negative consequences.

When Pressure From Parents Is Harmful

Kids who feel that they're under enormous pressure to do well can experience consequences in multiple areas of their lives, from their mental health to their sleep. Here are some effects of putting kids under too much pressure to perform.

Higher rates of mental illness

Kids who feel like they’re under constant pressure can experience constant anxiety. High amounts of stress can also place children at a greater risk of developing depression or other mental health conditions .

Higher risk of injuries

Athletes who feel a lot of pressure to be the best might continue to participate in sports despite injuries. Ignoring pain or returning to a sport before an injury has healed could lead to permanent damage.t

Increased likelihood of cheating

When the focus is on achievement rather than learning, kids are more likely to cheat. Whether it’s a young child catching a glimpse of a classmate's answer on a test, or a college student paying someone to write a term paper, cheating is common among kids who feel pressure to perform well.

Refusing to participate

When kids feel the goal is to always “be the best,” they’re not likely to participate when they aren’t likely to shine. A child who isn’t the fastest runner might quit playing soccer and a child who isn’t the best singer in the group might stop performing with the choir. Kids may also refuse to go to school if they don't excel. Unfortunately, that means kids won’t take opportunities to sharpen their skills.

Self-esteem problems

Pushing kids to excel can damage their self-esteem . The constant stress of performing interferes with children’s identity formation and causes them to feel like they’re not good enough—or even that they will never be good enough.

Sleep deprivation

Kids who feel constant pressure to do well in school might stay up late studying and struggle to get enough sleep. Or the excess pressure may be causing stress that makes it hard to sleep.

What to Do Instead of Adding Parental Pressure

Here's how parents can help their children without placing too much pressure on them.

Encourage your child to do their best. Focus on the process, rather than the result.
If you find yourself placing too much pressure on your child, ask yourself why their performance, test score, or success matters to you so much.
Talk to your child about the sport/assignment/performance they're working on. Set aside your feelings to make room for your child to express theirs. Giving your child the space to be seen and heard will encourage them rather than make them feel they have disappointed you.

Americans say kids need more pressure in school, Chinese say less. Pew Research Center . 2013.

The influence of academic pressure on adolescents' problem behavior: Chain mediating effects of self-control, parent-child conflict, and subjective well-being . Front Psychol . 2022.

Parental Support and Adolescents' Coping with Academic Stressors: A Longitudinal Study of Parents' Influence Beyond Academic Pressure and Achievement . J Youth Adolesc . 2023.

Parents' Response to Children's Performance and Children's Self-Esteem: Parent-Child Relationship and Friendship Quality as Mediators. Int J Environ Res Public Health . 2022.

Preventing Childhood Toxic Stress: Partnering With Families and Communities to Promote Relational Health . Pediatrics . 2021.

Search Please fill out this field.
Newsletters
Sweepstakes
Raising Kids
Parenting Advice

The Dangers of Putting Too Much Pressure on Kids

While it's normal to set high expectations for your children, putting them under too much pressure can be harmful to their mental health.

What Parental Pressure Looks Like

When Pressure Is Harmful
What to Do Instead

Learn more about the risks of parental pressure and how to motivate your kids without causing distress.

Parental Pressure in Sports and Other Activities

When Pressure From Parents Is Harmful

Higher rates of mental illness

Higher risk of injuries

Increased likelihood of cheating

Refusing to participate

Self-esteem problems

Sleep deprivation

Kids who feel constant pressure to do well in school might stay up late studying and struggle to get enough sleep. Or the excess pressure may be causing stress that makes it hard to sleep.

What to Do Instead of Adding Parental Pressure

Here's how parents can help their children without placing too much pressure on them.

Encourage your child to do their best. Focus on the process, rather than the result.
If you find yourself placing too much pressure on your child, ask yourself why their performance, test score, or success matters to you so much.
Talk to your child about the sport/assignment/performance they're working on. Set aside your feelings to make room for your child to express theirs. Giving your child the space to be seen and heard will encourage them rather than make them feel they have disappointed you.

Americans say kids need more pressure in school, Chinese say less. Pew Research Center . 2013.

The influence of academic pressure on adolescents' problem behavior: Chain mediating effects of self-control, parent-child conflict, and subjective well-being . Front Psychol . 2022.

Parental Support and Adolescents' Coping with Academic Stressors: A Longitudinal Study of Parents' Influence Beyond Academic Pressure and Achievement . J Youth Adolesc . 2023.

Parents' Response to Children's Performance and Children's Self-Esteem: Parent-Child Relationship and Friendship Quality as Mediators. Int J Environ Res Public Health . 2022.

Preventing Childhood Toxic Stress: Partnering With Families and Communities to Promote Relational Health . Pediatrics . 2021.

Vishal's account

Parental Pressure on Children: Signs and Effects

What Is Parental Pressure?

Why do parents put pressure on their children, signs of parental pressure on kids, the effects of parental pressure on children, how to encourage your child without parental pressure.

Academic excellence has always been a symbol of pride and status in our society; however, it is a class divide among children that adults drive entirely. It’s bad enough that their future holds a cutthroat world where success is measured by how much money they make; on top of that, undue parental pressure on children to score high marks and show excellence in every subject makes their minds a boiling pot ready to burst.

Parents, of course, envision a bright and happy future for their children, and the knowledge of how competitive it is makes them push their wards to do well in every field. However, growing parental pressure on children’s academic excellence has become a grave concern.

Parental pressure refers to the expectations and demands parents place on their children to achieve certain goals, often related to academics, sports, extracurricular activities, or behaviour. This pressure can stem from parents’ desires for their children to succeed, their unfulfilled ambitions, or societal and cultural expectations (1) .

The dismal condition of our education system and the swelling volume of applicants each year is a stress point for most parents. Educational institutes always look for the best and brightest students to maintain their rankings, which ultimately percolates to the children through parental pressure. Protecting their child from a lifetime of regrets and heart-breaking rejections is a parent’s prerogative; however, sometimes, they raise the stakes too high for children to cope with.

Social standing is a big cause of parental pressure. Caring more about how the world perceives them, can render parents ignorant about the true talents of their children. It’s important to remember that success and excellence are not one-size-fits-all. Parents often generalise these terms, depending on how others are doing. This can lead to children feeling overwhelmed and underappreciated in areas of their own interests like arts, music, theatre, especially in sports.

Unfortunately, parental pressure in sports is common, ultimately making children give up on their talents. Competitive exams, institutional elitism, and the race for a plush job have created an unhealthy culture in which children are stunted instead of flourishing.

Though based on good intentions, parental pressure is often mistaken as care and can seriously affect children. A little bit of extra attention can reveal alarming behavioural signs (2) :

1. Nightmares

Children often reflect on their fears in sleep. Examination fever or not being able to get sound sleep could be signs of parental pressure.

2. Seclusion & Cheating

Children under stress are more likely to shut everyone out. If a child stops talking about school or ignores important information like mark sheets, examination schedules, or school grades, it could be because they are scared to let their parents down. This fear can make children resort to unhealthy practices like cheating in examinations.

3. Lethargy & Loss of Interest

The constant fear of falling short of parental expectations can be tiring, leaving a child lethargic and disinterested. It is definitely a red flag if your child loses interest in an extracurricular activity that he/she otherwise enjoyed. Losing interest in extracurricular activities could also cause physiological symptoms like stomach pain , headaches , and diarrhoea .

4. Late Hours

Parental pressure can push children into panic mode, keeping them up late into the night to achieve what is expected of them. It often hampers their retention power, making the whole activity futile.

5. Bad Temper

When a well-behaved child suddenly starts to fly off the handle at the slightest instigation, it is time to pay attention to his stress levels. Stress causes anger, and this is true for adults as well as children. If the child feels that his efforts are not good enough for his parents, it can cause a great deal of stress, resulting in a bad temper.

The signs that your child might be under parental pressure are less prominent than signs of stress in adults. Unlike adults, children are not vocal about these symptoms mostly because they are conditioned into thinking that their failure is causing the stress. Long-term subjugation of children to parental pressure can push them beyond recovery. Here are a few dangerous effects of parental pressure on children:

1. Prone to Mental Disease

Children who go unnoticed while dealing with an internal tussle between expectations and capabilities are more likely to succumb to mental diseases. Students often slip into depression or other diseases related to the mind, not knowing how to deal with it due to constant goal-setting by their parents.

2. Self-Harm

Children, especially during their teens, often resort to self-harming activities to deal with parental pressure. Studies show that children contemplate suicide as an answer to deal with parental disappointment due to low scores in examinations. In India, especially, deaths caused by suicide are unnaturally common among students, and no one needs to look further than the news reports received right after exam results to realise this truth.

3. Low Self-Esteem

Children mostly look at their parents for validation on everything they do, but if they meet with constant criticism from the other side, it most likely will create a negative self-image. This negative perception can transform into self-hate and hinder children from growing into well-adjusted adults.

4. Defensive Attitude

Constant parental pressure can create a defensive attitude in children. Fear of failure can stop them from taking up new projects or completing them. It can create unhealthy defiance in them that can lead to dissatisfied adulthood.

5. Risk of Permanent Injuries

Children who are made to bear the burden of excessive parental pressure while dealing with the physically and mentally taxing requirements of professional sports are more likely to push themselves over the threshold. They tend to ignore the pain and hurt, causing permanent injuries.

The pressure parents put on their children can significantly influence their development and well-being. Encouraging your child without applying undue parental pressure is essential for their healthy development and self-esteem. Here are some strategies to encourage your child positively:

1. Focus on Effort, Not Just Results

Praise your child for their hard work, dedication, and improvement rather than solely on the outcomes. This helps them develop a growth mindset, understanding that effort leads to progress and success (3) .

2. Set Realistic and Achievable Goals

Work with your child to set challenging yet attainable goals. Ensure these goals align with their interests and capabilities. This approach prevents overwhelming feelings and fosters a sense of accomplishment when they achieve these targets.

3. Provide a Supportive Environment

Create an environment where your child feels safe to express their feelings, interests, and concerns. Be an active listener and show empathy towards their experiences. This supportive atmosphere helps them feel valued and understood, reducing stress and anxiety.

4. Encourage Decision-Making

Allow your child to make their own choices regarding their activities and interests. Offer guidance and advice, but let them take the lead. This autonomy builds their confidence and teaches responsibility as they learn to make decisions and face the consequences.

5. Celebrate Individual Strengths and Interests

Recognise and celebrate your child’s unique talents and passions, even if they differ from your expectations. Encourage them to pursue what they love, whether academics, sports, arts, or any other.

1. How can parental pressure affect the parent-child relationship?

Excessive pressure can strain the parent-child relationship , leading to feelings of resentment and mistrust. Children may feel misunderstood and unsupported, causing emotional distance. Over time, this can erode the bond between parent and child, making open communication and mutual respect more difficult.

2. How does parental pressure contribute to the development of perfectionism in children?

Parental pressure often sets unrealistic standards for children, leading them to develop perfectionistic tendencies. This constant pursuit of flawlessness can result in heightened anxiety, fear of failure, and a diminished sense of self-worth.

3. How does parental pressure affect students’ academic performance?

Parental pressure on students’ academic performance can have positive and negative effects. While some students may feel motivated to excel under their parents’ expectations, excessive pressure can lead to detrimental outcomes. Students may experience heightened stress, anxiety, and a fear of failure, ultimately hindering their ability to perform well academically (4) .

4. How can parents recognise the fine line between healthy encouragement and detrimental pressure in their parenting approach?

Recognising the fine line between healthy encouragement and detrimental pressure requires mindfulness and self-awareness on the part of parents. It involves paying attention to their child’s cues, respecting their needs and limitations, and adjusting their approach. Open communication, empathy, and a willingness to prioritise their child’s well-being over external expectations are essential in finding this balance.

Parental pressure on students can significantly impact their academic performance, mental health, and overall well-being. As a parent, you must create a healthy space for your child to flourish and excel in life. You should discover your child’s strengths and guide them in enhancing their talents. Each child doesn’t need to achieve academic excellence. Success is inevitable if you give your child the required support to pursue their dreams in whichever field they want without instilling the fear of failure.

References/Resources:

1. Moneva. J. C, Moncada. K. A; Parental Pressure and Students Self-Efficacy; ResearchGate; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339096621_Parental_Pressure_and_Students_Self-Efficacy_1 ; January 2020

2. Impact Of Parental Pressure On Creativity And Self Efficacy Of Young Adults; IJCRT; https://ijcrt.org/papers/IJCRT2306199.pdf ; June 2023

3. How to Motivate Children: Science-Based Approaches for Parents, Caregivers, and Teachers; The Center on the Developing Child; https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/how-to-motivate-children-science-based-approaches-for-parents-caregivers-and-teachers/

4. Srivastava. A; Impact of Parental Pressure on Academic Achievement; ResearchGate; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344137451_Impact_of_Parental_Pressure_on_Academic_Achievement

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Parental Pressure

Parents’ Influence on a Child Essay: How Parents Affect Behavior and Development

To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
As a template for you assignment

Do you wonder how parents influence their child? Read our parents’ influence on a child essay example and learn about the parental impact on behavior and development.

Introduction

Financial Resources
Education Level

Unemployed Parents

Involvement of Parents
Support from Parents
Understanding of the Child’s Future
Motivation from Parents
Parental Goal-Setting
The Importance of Discipline

Parents are means of structuring their child’s future. They have a very crucial role to play in their child’s growth and his/her conduct. During the days when schooling was considered to be accessible only to the children of the opulent, those who were not privileged enough to go to school, remained at home and helped their parents in daily chores.

Such children used to emulate their parents in their deeds and conduct. “In large part, we as children are shaped by what we see our parents do and how we see them act. I know that I have tried to model after my parents in many ways because I think they have done many things right” (Enotes, 2010).

But during the years, owing to the numerous opportunities available, parents have started devoting more time towards their work. Moreover, education has been simplified and has easy access. Children have started going to schools and as such, both parents and their children don’t have enough time to spend with each other. But still there are parents who devote time towards their children and try and teach them.

It has been observed that children, who have their parents’ guidance and participation in their school activities, achieve more in life as compared to those who totally depend on their schools. “…is that when parents get involved in their children’s education, they offer not only information specific to the classroom, but likely help in giving children a broader level of academic information” (Jeynes, 2011).

There are a few factors related to parents that have a major role to play in the child’s upbringing and education. These are:

Financial resources of parents

Financial resources mean the income of the parents. If the income of parents is good, they can afford to provide extra study material to their child at home. There is a lot of referencing material required by children and as such parents earning better can provide their child with books, periodicals, magazines, etc. Technological devices like the computer play an important role in a child’s standard of education. Parents earning handsomely can provide their child with a computer at home so that he/she can complete online projects. “Poverty takes a toll on students’ school performance. Poor children are twice as likely as their more affluent counterparts to repeat a grade; to be suspended, expelled, or drop out of high school; and to be placed in special education classes” (Education).

Education level of the parents

If the parents are well educated, they ought to understand the importance of education and will encourage their child to study better and up to high levels. Uneducated or less educated parents will not be able to understand the importance of moulding their child’s career from the early school days. On the contrary, well educated parents will understand that for achieving success and objectives, the foundation of their child should be strong.

Unemployed parents are disgruntled and as such the atmosphere at home is not conducive for a child to study. Children find it suffocating at home and as such can’t concentrate on their studies even at their schools. Nicole Biedinger remarked that “…it is hypothesized that the home environment and family background are very important for the cognitive abilities and for their improvement” (Biedinger 2011). He further continues that “Previous research has shown that there exist developmental differences of children from different social classes” (Biedinger, 2011).

Involvement of parents

It will not be contradictory to state that parents and schools have an equal effect on the development of children. Both have an important role to play and are links to a child’s future. Even if one of the links is missing, it will have a negative impact on the child. Parents can get involved in their child’s upbringing by keeping a constant vigil on his/her school work. They can also visit his/her school on occasions such as parent-teacher meetings, annual days, sport events, social get-togethers, etc. All this will help in developing confidence in the child and also a sense of safety and protection.

Once a child is grown up, the parents can still contribute towards building their child’s confidence and identifying his/her qualities by talking to him/her on various career related issues.

Support from parents

Even if parents are not able to contribute financially by providing the essential tools for education, they can at least act as moral boosters for their child. They can inculcate, in their child, the habit of studying hard in order to attain success in life. Such children can defy all odds and prove to fulfil their parents’ aspirations. Alison Rich emphasized that “A cognitively stimulating home need not be one that is rich in material resources. Parents can simply discuss issues of importance with their children, talk to them about what they are doing in school, or spend time doing activities that will develop their skills and abilities” (Rich, 2000).

Parents’ understanding of their child’s future

Simply by getting involved in their child’s school activities, parents cannot guarantee their child’s success. Parents should be well acquainted with the ongoing educational process and various courses available. Information on when to go for any particular course is very crucial. As for example, parents must be aware of any courses that their child might require before going to the college. There are various pre-college courses that improve the grasping power of students. Further, a child will not be able to tell as to what he/she wants to achieve in life. But parents, by knowing his/her interests, can assess their child’s inclination and can further encourage him/her to pursue those interests.

Motivation from parents

Usually, parents tell bed-time stories to their children. These stories have a great impact on the way a child thinks and are instrumental to quite some extent in moulding his/her behaviour and conduct. So parents should tell such stories that have some moral values. The child will get inspired from them and behave accordingly. Stories of heroes and successful people will encourage the child to be like one of them. Parents can also motivate their children by doing good acts themselves.

Parents to set goals for their child

Achieving one’s goals in life is a very important factor of success. Success comes to those who achieve their aims and objectives. Even though there are no fixed parameters for achieving success, it solely depends on the hard work, enthusiasm and motivation of a person. These qualities don’t come instantly but have to be nurtured since childhood. So parents, who want their child to succeed, should start giving him/her small targets to be completed in a given time-frame. Gradually, the child will be habituated to achieve targets and this will be helpful to a great extent in his/her future life, may it be his/her education or career.

Inculcating the importance of discipline

Being disciplined is one of the most critical requirements of being successful. Similar to the habit of achieving targets, discipline also doesn’t come instantly. It has to be inculcated since childhood.

Parents can teach discipline to their child by following certain rules. They can have strict time frames for different activities of their child at home such as study hours, watching the television programmes, having supper and other meals, and going to bed. A sense of responsibility can also be imposed on the child by allocating to him/her certain house-hold tasks.

Having mentioned all the above factors, it can be concluded that parents have an ever-lasting impact on their child’s education. It has been observed that in cases where parents have involvement in their children’s education, the children portray the following virtues: better grades at school, better rates of graduation, fewer absentees from school, better inspiration and confidence, abstaining from drugs, smoking, alcohol and other sedatives, transparency, and being responsible.

Both parents and the school have to work in mutual co-operation to enhance the educational experience of a child and to mould his/her career. In fact, schools encourage parents to be more involved in their children’s activities because the school authorities know that parents’ involvement can bring about great positive changes in the students. That’s the reason schools invite parents to attend various school activities and functions.

Biedinger, N. (2011). The influence of education and home environment on the cognitive outcomes of preschool children in Germany . Web.

Education. (n.d.). Out-of-school influences and academic success-background, parental influence, family economic status, preparing for school, physical and mental health . Web.

Enotes. (2010). How do parents influence children in life? Web.

Jeynes, W. (2011). Parental involvement and academic success . New York: Routledge.

Rich, A. (2000). Beyond the classroom: How parents influence their children’s education . Web.

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IvyPanda. (2018, November 6). Parents’ Influence on a Child Essay: How Parents Affect Behavior and Development. https://ivypanda.com/essays/parents-influence-on-a-child/

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Have You Mastered the Tricky Art of Parental Pressure?

Tools to transform parental pressure into positive, encouraging support. .

Posted July 20, 2021 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan

Parents who want the best for their kids may unintentionally pressure them in the wrong places, in the wrong way, and at the wrong times.
Parental pressure can have serious consequences on children, such as an increase in anxiety and depression, and a reduction in motivation.
Parental pressure helps children most when it's supportive rather than focusing on things like the event's importance or the parent's reputation.

Most parents prod their children to succeed in some way — athletically, academically, or artistically. Without meaning to, however, you may be putting your child into a pressure-cooker.

Some parents push lightly, many more forcefully, but almost always in the name of wanting the best for their children. Parents unintentionally go off-course and pressure in the wrong places, in the wrong way, and at the wrong times. If not guilty yourself, think about parents spewing direction from the sidelines or telling a child that it’s super important to hand in a perfect paper, get a good grade on a “big” test, or perform flawlessly. Parental pressure often gets tangled up in their own dreams.

Wanting the best starts early

Journalist Keith Gessen, a rabid ice hockey enthusiast and dad, desperately wanted his young son, Raffi, to follow his athletic lead. He began coaxing Raffi to kick a ball and skate from age two. Throughout Gessen’s entire life, from boyhood to grad school and long after, hockey, he says, was his “refuge and a solace.”

Gessen judged Raffi’s early exuberance and “desire to crash into things” as “the behavior of a person who wanted to learn how to play sports.” There were signs from ages two to six that Raffi might be interested in soccer, inline skating, or ice hockey, but they were fleeting glimmers.

This hockey-fanatic dad came to the realization that cheering his son on at the hockey rink may never happen. He wisely notes that “Children are their own people, yes, but they are also so much at our mercy — at the mercy of our moods, our insecurities, even our dreams.” And those dreams for our children can easily slip into parental pressure that defeats its intended outcome.

My own son was turned off by his father’s pressure to love the game of tennis and retired his racquet at age 15. He said “no” to his dad’s intensity and dream for him. Sadly, he was good and might have actually enjoyed the game if he hadn’t been strongly urged to take lessons, practice, and join the high school tennis team.

Parental pressure can have serious consequences that go far beyond abandoning an activity or receiving a poor test grade. In their book, The Unlikely Art of Parental Pressure: A Positive Approach to Pushing Your Child to Be Their Best Self , psychologists Chris Thurber and Hendrie Weisinger write: “Around the world, loving parents have unintentionally made their children miserable by describing opportunities as scarce, competition as fierce, and perfection as vital … The result is a cohort of young people who are anxious , depressed , and unmotivated—precisely the opposite of what parents intend.”

Many children love or excel at what they focus their time and energy on, yet more and more high school and college students seek counseling help and an increasing number contemplate or commit suicide . Those facts should be enough to make any parent want to tamp down their well-meaning but detrimental pressure that in a parent’s mind is “helpful.” You can push a child, but there are positive steps to avoid all manner of pushback and prolonged negative fallout.

The fine art of supporting your children

Children don’t need a shelf full of sports trophies or to attend an elite college to succeed in life. There is an art to supporting children; that means converting parental pressure into parental support.

You may not be the obnoxious sports parent on the sidelines or the parent who demands academic excellence. Nonetheless, most of us have tripped up in the pressure department. Weisinger and Thurber provide hundreds of examples to help parents be supportive at the same time they prod their children to be their best selves.

Here are a few of their pointers when a child has to perform under pressure of any sort. They will keep you from derailing from your goal to be supportive:

Avoid high-stakes comments that focus on importance that can hinder performance, such as, “This is the most important test of your life” or “Your whole future depends on how you play.”

Instead say: “This could be a cool chance to show your stuff" or “Remember, it’s a concert, just like any other.”

Saying “Do you think you studied enough?” “Are you sure you rehearsed your lines enough?” only adds to a child or teen ’s uncertainty.

Instead say: “You have studied a lot for this final exam" or (days in advance), “The more you practice, the more ready you’ll feel.”

Focusing on reputation and responsibility can undermine a child’s ability to perform well. This includes saying things such as, “Make us proud kiddo. I want to post about this” or “It’s all up to you. Everyone is counting on you.”

Instead say: “We are behind you 100 percent, kiddo. You got this" or “You know how to bring the heat. Give it your best.”

And after a performance, stick with “praising your child’s participation and effort regardless of the outcome.”

Have you asked?

Have you asked your child what she wants for herself? It's probably not the ice hockey player that Gessen hoped for, the tennis lover my husband dreamed of, or the world-class pianist or scientist you may have wanted to be yourself.

“Just be certain that you customize your expectations for your child to their interests, abilities, and personality , not yours,” advise Thurber and Weisinger. “Supportive parents also have high expectations, but they want their children to do their best, not the best.”

Gessen, Keith. (2021). “Sports Meant So Much to Me. Why Wouldn’t My Son Play?” New York Times Magazine : March 16.

Thurber, Chris and Hendrie Weisinger. (2021). The Unlikely Art of Parental Pressure: A Positive Approach to Pushing Your Child to Be Their Best Self . New York: Hachette Go

Susan Newman, Ph.D. , is a social psychologist and author. Her latest book is The Book of No: 365 Ways to Say it and Mean it—and Stop People-Pleasing Forever.

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Rising parental expectations linked to perfectionism in college students

Personality

Parental pressures increased over past 30 years with societal changes, study finds

Read the journal article

Young People’s Perceptions of Their Parents’ Expectations and Criticism Are Increasing Over Time (PDF, 431KB)

Washington — Rising parental expectations and criticism are linked to an increase in perfectionism among college students, which can have damaging mental health consequences, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 20,000 American, Canadian and British college students. They found that young people’s perceptions of their parents’ expectations and criticism have increased over the past 32 years and are linked to an increase in their perfectionism.

“Perfectionism contributes to many psychological conditions, including depression, anxiety, self-harm and eating disorders,” said lead researcher Thomas Curran, PhD, an assistant professor of psychological and behavioral science at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Study co-author Andrew P. Hill, PhD, a professor of sport and exercise psychology at York St John University, added that “the pressure to conform to perfect ideals has never been greater and could be the basis for an impending public health issue.”

Perfectionism often becomes a lifelong trait and prior research has shown that perfectionists become more neurotic and less conscientious as they get older. Perfectionism also can perpetuate through generations, with perfectionist parents raising perfectionist children.

Curran and Hill previously found that three types of perfectionism were increasing among young people in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom. They suspected that one cause might be that parents are becoming more anxious and controlling, so they analyzed the findings of other published studies in two meta-analyses for this latest piece of research, which published online in the journal Psychological Bulletin .

The first meta-analysis included 21 studies with data from more than 7,000 college students. Parental expectations and criticism had moderate associations with self-oriented and other-oriented perfectionism and a large association with socially prescribed perfectionism.

Self-oriented perfectionism involves perfectionist standards about the self. Other-oriented perfectionism is perfectionism turned outward, where someone expects others to be perfectionist. Socially prescribed perfectionism is the perception that other people and society require perfection. The three types of perfectionism overlap and can exacerbate the effects of each other in negative ways.

Parental expectations had a larger impact than parental criticism on self-oriented and other-oriented perfectionism, so parental expectations may be more damaging than parental criticism.

“Parental expectations have a high cost when they’re perceived as excessive,” Curran said. “Young people internalize those expectations and depend on them for their self-esteem. And when they fail to meet them, as they invariably will, they’ll be critical of themselves for not matching up. To compensate, they strive to be perfect.”

Self-oriented perfectionism was higher for American college students than Canadian or British students, possibly because of more intense academic competition in the U.S.

“These trends may help explain increasing mental health issues in young people and suggest this problem will only worsen in the future,” Hill said. “It’s normal for parents to be anxious about their children, but increasingly this anxiety is being interpreted as pressure to be perfect.”

The second meta-analysis included 84 studies conducted between 1989 and 2021 with a total of 23,975 college students. Parental expectations, criticism and their combined parental pressure increased during those 32 years, with parental expectations increasing at the fastest rate by far.

“The rate of increase in young people’s perceptions of their parents’ expectations is remarkable,” up an average 40% compared with 1989, Curran said.

The studies were conducted in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom, so the findings can’t be generalized to other cultures. The research is correlational, so it can’t prove that rising parental expectations or criticism caused an increase in perfectionism among college students, only that there is a link between them. However, the research suggests troublesome changes over time, according to the researchers.

So what are parents supposed to do? “Parents are not to blame because they’re reacting anxiously to a hyper-competitive world with ferocious academic pressures, runaway inequality and technological innovations like social media that propagate unrealistic ideals of how we should appear and perform,” Curran said.

“Parents are placing excessive expectations on their children because they think, correctly, that society demands it or their children will fall down the social ladder,” Curran added. “It’s ultimately not about parents recalibrating their expectations. It’s about society—our economy, education system and supposed meritocracy—recognizing that the pressures we’re putting on young people and their families are unnecessarily overwhelming.”

Parents can help their children navigate societal pressures in a healthy way by teaching them that failure, or imperfection, is a normal and natural part of life, Curran said. “Focusing on learning and development, not test scores or social media, helps children develop healthy self-esteem, which doesn’t depend on others’ validation or external metrics,” he said.

Article: “Young People’s Perceptions of Their Parents’ Expectations and Criticism Are Increasing Over Time: Implications for Perfectionism,” by Thomas Curran, PhD, London School of Economics and Political Science, and Andrew P. Hill, PhD, York St John University, Psychological Bulletin , published online March 31, 2022.

Thomas Curran, PhD, may be contacted via email .

Todd Bentsen Telephone: (202) 336-5700

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Parental Pressure on Students

by Richard Wike and Juliana Menasce Horowitz

Have American parents become too pushy about their kids’ education? Many experts seem to think so, judging from several new books by journalists and psychologists that bemoan the growing pressure students feel to do well in school. But at least one group of non-experts — the American public — begs to differ. According to a Pew Global Attitudes survey, most Americans think parents are not pushing their children hard enough.

By a ratio of nearly four-to-one, adults in this country say that American parents are placing too little (56%) rather than too much (15%) pressure on students, with the remaining quarter (24%) saying that parents are exerting the right amount of pressure. Parents and non-parents feel roughly the same way about this question, the survey finds. So do Republicans and Democrats, blacks and whites, older adults and younger adults, people with low incomes and those with high incomes, and people with college degrees and those with a just a high school education or less. The only demographic gap in attitudes about this question — and it’s not especially wide — comes on the gender front. More men (62%) than women (51%) say parents aren’t being tough enough.

To find more substantial differences in attitudes about parental pressure on students, one needs to look east. Far East. When the same question was posed in China, India, and Japan about parents in those respective countries, the results were the mirror image of those found in the United States. 1

In these three Asian countries, solid majorities say children are under too much pressure from parents, and very few believe children face too little pressure. The surveys were conducted from March to May, 2006.

Many Asian countries are known for rigorous educational systems that place heavy pressure on students to perform well on high-stakes university entrance exams and in international academic competitions.

In Japan, for example, parents often send their children to private juku , or “cram schools,” where they spend many hours beyond the regular school day supplementing their studies and preparing for college entrance exams. When the Japanese government recently took steps to reduce student workloads, it met with criticism from parents concerned about the country’s drop from first place in 2000 to fourth place in 2003 on the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) mathematics literacy test.

Roughly six-in-ten Japanese (59%) say all this pressure is too much, while 30% feel the demands are about right. Only 9% say students need more parental pressure — a figure that stands in stark contrast to the 56% of Americans who feel this way about students here.

In an email exchange, author Alexandra Robbins, whose book, The Overachievers: the Secret Lives of Driven Kids , focuses on the United States but includes a chapter on Asia, noted that “exam fever” is widespread in Asian countries. “In Asia, unlike the U.S., the college you attend can mean the difference between a distinguished professional career or a life of menial labor,” she wrote.

Even so, Robbins’ book is one of several that argues that Americans students are under growing pressure to perform well at school. “I strongly believe,” she says in her email, “that the American public isn’t aware of just how much pressure children are feeling, because many parents don’t necessarily pressure intentionally.”

There’s a debate in education circles about whether this pressure is being felt around the country, or whether it tends to be confined to upper income areas such as Bethesda, Maryland, where Robbins conducted most of her research. Recent studies by the RAND Corporation and the Brookings Institution have found that American students average less than one hour each night on homework, hardly the demanding schedule of an overstressed juku student. And American students generally rank far below their Japanese counterparts on international tests. For example, the U.S. placed 24th out of 29 developed countries on the 2003 PISA math literacy test and 19th on the science literacy test. So perhaps the public is on to something.

Samples in China and India are disproportionately urban. For more methodological details, see the Pew Global Attitudes report “ America’s Image Slips, But Allies Share U.S. Concerns Over Iran, Hamas: No Global Warming Alarm in the U.S., China ,” June 13, 2006. ↩

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Relating aspects of adolescent emotional autonomy to academic achievement and deviant behavior., parental pressure, self-esteem and adolescent reported deviance: bending the twig too far., academic stress and adolescents mental health: a multilevel structural equation modeling (msem) study in northwest of iran., the influence of perceived parental expectations and pressures on women's academic achievement during the first year of college., related papers (5), the relationship between adolescents’ attributional style and parenting, peers’ emotionality and children's academic achievement in second grade: testing the moderating role of children's behavioral self‐regulation, mediating influence of children’s academic self-concept on the relation between parenting style and children’s academic achievement, relationship between preschoolers' anxiety and parenting styles: a longitudinal study., parenting styles and adjustment in gifted children, trending questions (3).

Supportive parenting style positively impacts academic performance by reducing stress levels in students. Conversely, authoritarian parenting style can lead to increased stress due to high academic expectations.

Yes, parental pressure on academic achievement can lead to stress for students, impacting their well-being and academic performance, as highlighted in the study.

- Supportive parenting style improves academic achievement. - Authoritarian parenting style can cause stress and hinder academic performance.

Essay on Parental Pressure On Students

Students are often asked to write an essay on Parental Pressure On Students in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Parental Pressure On Students

Understanding parental pressure.

Parents often want their children to do well in school. This can make them push their kids too hard. They might want good grades or success in sports or music. This pressure can make kids feel stressed or worried.

Effects on Students

Finding balance.

It’s important for parents to support their kids without pushing too hard. They should encourage learning and trying new things but also understand that making mistakes is part of growing up.

250 Words Essay on Parental Pressure On Students

What is parental pressure.

Parental pressure is when moms and dads push their children too hard to do well in school and other activities. It’s like when your parents want you to get the best grades or be the star of your soccer team. They may think they’re helping, but it can make kids feel stressed or worried.

Why Parents Push Their Kids

How pressure affects students.

When parents put too much pressure on their kids, it can make them feel scared of making mistakes. This can lead to feeling sad or not enjoying school. Sometimes, kids might even give up on things they love because they’re scared of not being perfect.

Finding a Balance

It’s important for parents to support their kids without pushing them too hard. They can do this by celebrating effort, not just good grades or wins. It’s also good for parents to listen to their children and understand when they need a break or help.

In Conclusion

Parental pressure can make school tough for kids. But when parents find a balance and support their children’s efforts, they can help them do well without feeling too much stress. It’s all about cheering on your kids and helping them grow at their own pace.

500 Words Essay on Parental Pressure On Students

When we talk about parental pressure, we mean the expectations and demands that moms and dads place on their kids to do well in school and other activities. This pressure can come in many forms, like pushing for better grades, insisting on more study time, or expecting wins in sports. Parents often think they’re helping their children succeed, but too much pressure can lead to stress and unhappiness for students.

Parents want the best for their kids. They believe that by pushing them to achieve high marks and excel in extracurricular activities, they’re setting them up for a bright future. Some parents might also feel that their child’s success is a reflection of their own parenting skills, so they push their kids to work harder to prove they’re doing a good job.

The Effects of Too Much Pressure

It’s important for parents to find a balance between encouraging their kids and putting too much pressure on them. This means setting realistic goals and understanding each child’s unique abilities and interests. Instead of focusing only on grades or wins, parents should encourage their children to learn and grow. Praising effort rather than just results can help kids feel valued for their hard work, not just their successes.

Communication is Key

Talking openly can help a lot. Kids should feel comfortable telling their parents how they feel about the pressure they’re under. Parents should listen and be willing to adjust their expectations. By working together, they can set goals that are challenging but achievable, and that won’t cause too much stress.

Support Over Pressure

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

Happy studying!

The biggest stress for students: parental pressure

Anjali Hazari sees at first hand the harm of unrealistic expectations

As an educator and parent for nearly three decades, I am pleased to read concerns about students being under too much academic pressure. While parents often identify the source of the pressure as results-oriented educational systems and schools giving too much homework, I get mixed messages when I sit on the other side of the parent-teacher conference table.

From where I sit, unrealistic parental expectations of a child's abilities and potential seem to be the most common cause of stress among students.

Generally, high achievers and Asian parents find it difficult to accept a less-than-stellar performance from their children.

For example, a student might be advised to take the core, rather than the extended, paper in an International General Certificate of Secondary Education exam. Parents immediately resist the recommendation, given that the maximum grade would then be a C. Their response is fairly consistent: "We'll get him (her) a tutor and he (she) should get an A."

Then there is the International Baccalaureate (IB) subject selection, where parents often insist their child should take the higher-level option even though the child doesn't meet the grade requirements. When students struggle to understand the concepts of a demanding subject and its accompanying workload, concern is raised that the student is under pressure. However, it's neither the school nor the teacher that is subjecting the student to stress - it goes back to subject selection. Sometimes, it goes back to selecting the appropriate secondary school education for the student.

The number of IB schools may be growing in Hong Kong, but the IB diploma is not for every student.

Yet there is great trepidation in allowing students to take GCE A-levels because universities view the IB diploma "more favourably". And there is even greater resistance to students undertaking IB vocational certificate courses as an alternative. These unrealistic expectations cause performance anxiety among students.

Far be it for me to pass judgment on parents who, in the final analysis, simply want their children to get good grades so they can secure admission to a good university and then get a good job in this competitive society. I have been there. Our first-born's early childhood memories are replete with stress from me to fill cursive writing books neatly and redoing colouring until she was able to shade within each picture.

Although my daughter did eventually manage to achieve her goal of graduating with degrees in international relations and Middle Eastern studies, I had "suggested" she take all science and maths subjects for her A-levels and keep her options open - just in case she changed her mind and wished to pursue a career in medicine, perhaps.

A growing body of literature presents compelling evidence that parental attitudes and behaviour influence their children's affective reactions. Empirical studies from Johns Hopkins University reveal that "ways in which parents get involved and advocate for their children's education rely upon parents' conceptions of academic success".

We as parents need to re-examine our notion of academic excellence as being the only measure of success. And we should give more credence to developing enhanced human values in our children so they may apply themselves wholeheartedly to their various roles in society. We need to see our children as successful simply when they have done their best.

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Family and Academic Stress and Their Impact on Students' Depression Level and Academic Performance

1 School of Mechatronics Engineering, Daqing Normal University, Daqing, China

2 School of Marxism, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, China

Jacob Cherian

3 College of Business, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Noor Un Nisa Khan

4 Faculty of Business Administration, Iqra University Karachi Pakistan, Karachi, Pakistan

Kalpina Kumari

5 Faculty of Department of Business Administration, Greenwich University Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan

Muhammad Safdar Sial

6 Department of Management Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad, Pakistan

Ubaldo Comite

7 Department of Business Sciences, University Giustino Fortunato, Benevento, Italy

Beata Gavurova

8 Faculty of Mining, Ecology, Process Control and Geotechnologies, Technical University of Kosice, Kosice, Slovakia

József Popp

9 Hungarian National Bank–Research Center, John von Neumann University, Kecskemét, Hungary

10 College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

Associated Data

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.

Current research examines the impact of academic and familial stress on students' depression levels and the subsequent impact on their academic performance based on Lazarus' cognitive appraisal theory of stress. The non-probability convenience sampling technique has been used to collect data from undergraduate and postgraduate students using a modified questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale. This study used the SEM method to examine the link between stress, depression, and academic performance. It was confirmed that academic and family stress leads to depression among students, negatively affecting their academic performance and learning outcomes. This research provides valuable information to parents, educators, and other stakeholders concerned about their childrens' education and performance.

Introduction

Higher education institutions (HEIs) are believed to be one of the strongest pillars in the growth of any nation ( 1 ). Being the principal stakeholder, the performance of HEIs mainly relies on the success of its students ( 2 ). To successfully compete in the prevailing dynamic industrial environment, students are not only supposed to develop their knowledge but are also expected to have imperative skills and abilities ( 3 ). In the current highly competitive academic environment, students' performance is largely affected by several factors, such as social media, academic quality, family and social bonding, etc. ( 4 ). Aafreen et al. ( 2 ) stated that students continuously experience pressure from different sources during academic life, which ultimately causes stress among students.

Stress is a common factor that largely diminishes individual morale ( 5 ). It develops when a person cannot handle their inner and outer feelings. When the stress becomes chronic or exceeds a certain level, it affects an individual's mental health and may lead to different psychological disorders, such as depression ( 6 ). Depression is a worldwide illness marked by feelings of sadness and the inability to feel happy or satisfied ( 7 ). Nowadays, it is a common disorder, increasing day by day. According to the World Health Organization ( 8 , 9 ), depression was ranked third among the global burden of disease and predicted to take over first place by 2030.

Depression leads to decreased energy, difficulty thinking, concentrating, and making career decisions ( 6 ). Students are a pillar of the future in building an educated society. For them, academic achievement is a big goal of life and can severely be affected if the students fall prey to depression ( 10 , 11 ). There can be several reasons for this: family issues, exposure to a new lifestyle in colleges and universities, poor academic grades, favoritism by teachers, etc. Never-ending stress or academic pressure of studies can also be a chief reason leading to depression in students ( 12 ). There is a high occurrence of depression in emerging countries, and low mental health literacy has been theorized as one of the key causes of escalating rates of mental illness ( 13 ).

Several researchers, such as ( 6 , 14 , 15 ) have studied stress and depression elements from a performance perspective and reported that stress and depression negatively affect the academic performance of students. However, Aafreen et al. ( 2 ) reported contradictory results and stated that stress sharpens the individual's mind and reflexes and enables workers to perform better in taxing situations. Ardalan ( 16 ) conducted a study in the United States (US). They reported that depression is a common issue among students in the US, and 20 percent of them may have a depressive disorder spanning 12 months or more. It affects students' mental and physical health and limits their social relationships and professional career.

However, the current literature provides mixed results on the relationship between stress and performance. Therefore, the current research investigates stress among students from family and academic perspectives using Lazaru's theory which describes stress as a relation between an individual and his environment and examines how it impacts students' depression level, leading to their academic performance. Most of the available studies on stress and depression are from industrial perspectives, and limited attention is paid to stress from family and institutional perspectives and examines its impact on students' depression level, leading to their academic performance, particularly in Pakistan, the place of the study. Besides, the present study follows a multivariate statistical technique, followed by structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the relationship between stated variables which is also a study's uniqueness.

This paper is divided into five main sections. The current section provided introduction, theoretical perspective, and background of the study. In the second section, a theoretical framework, a detailed literature review and research hypotheses of the underlying relationships are being proposed. In the third and fourth section, methodology and analysis have been discussed. Finally, in the last section, the conclusion, limitations, implications, and recommendations for future research have been proposed.

Theory and Literature

The idea of cognitive appraisal theory was presented in 1966 by psychologist Richard Lazarus in Psychological Stress and Coping Process. According to this theory, appraisal and coping are two concepts that are central to any psychological stress theory. Both are interrelated. According to the theory, stress is the disparity between stipulations placed on the individuals and their coping resources ( 17 ). Since its first introduction as a comprehensive theory ( 18 ), a few modifications have been experienced in theory later. The recent adaptation states that stress is not defined as a specific incitement or psychological, behavioral, or subjective response. Rather, stress is seen as a relation between an individual and his environment ( 19 ). Individuals appraise the environment as significant for their well-being and try to cope with the exceeding demands and challenges.

Cognitive appraisal is a model based on the idea that stress and other emotional processes depend on a person's expectancies regarding the significance and outcome of an event, encounter, or function. This explains why there are differences in intensity, duration, and quality of emotions elicited in people in response to the environment, which objectively, are equal for all ( 18 ). These appraisals may be influenced by various factors, including a person's goals, values, motivations, etc., and are divided into primary and secondary appraisals, specific patterns of which lead to different kinds of stress ( 20 ). On the other hand, coping is defined as the efforts made by a person to minimize, tolerate, or master the internal and external demands placed on them, a concept intimately related to cognitive appraisal and, therefore, to the stress-relevant person-environment transactions.

Individuals experience different mental and physiological changes when encountering pressure, such as stress ( 21 , 22 ). The feelings of stress can be either due to factors in the external environment or subjective emotions of individuals, which can even lead to psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression. Excess stress can cause health problems. A particularly negative impact has been seen in students due to the high level of stress they endure, affecting their learning outcomes. Various methods are used to tackle stress. One of the methods is trying to pinpoint the causes of stress, which leads us to different terms such as family stress and academic stress. The two factors, stress and depression, have greatly impacted the students' academic performances. This research follows the Lazarus theory based on stress to examine the variables. See the conceptual framework of the study in Figure 1 .

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Conceptual framework.

Academic Stress

Academic issues are thought to be the most prevalent source of stress for college students ( 23 ). For example, according to Yang et al. ( 24 ), students claimed that academic-related pressures such as ongoing study, writing papers, preparing for tests, and boring professors were the most important daily problems. Exams and test preparation, grade level competitiveness, and gaining a big quantity of knowledge in a short period of time all contribute to academic pressure. Perceived stress refers to a condition of physical or psychological arousal in reaction to stressors ( 25 , 26 ). When college students face excessive or negative stress, they suffer physical and psychological consequences. Excessive stress can cause health difficulties such as fatigue, loss of appetite, headaches, and gastrointestinal issues. Academic stress has been linked to a variety of negative effects, including ill health, anxiety, depression, and poor academic performance. Travis et al. ( 27 ), in particular, discovered strong links between academic stress and psychological and physical health.

Family Stress

Parental participation and learning effect how parents treat their children, as well as how they handle their children's habits and cognitive processes ( 28 ). This, in turn, shapes their children's performance and behaviors toward them. As a result, the parent-child relationship is dependent on the parents' attitudes, understanding, and perspectives. When parents have positive views, the relationship between them and their children will be considerably better than when they have negative attitudes. Parents respond to unpleasant emotions in a variety of ways, which can be classified as supportive or non-supportive ( 29 ). Parents' supportive reactions encourage children to explore their emotions by encouraging them to express them or by assisting them in understanding and coping with an emotion-eliciting scenario. Non-supportive behaviors, such as downplaying the kid's emotional experience, disciplining the child, or getting concerned by the child's display, transmit the child the message that expressing unpleasant emotions is inappropriate and unacceptable. Supportive parental reactions to unpleasant emotions in children have been linked to dimensions of emotional and social competence, such as emotion comprehension and friendship quality. Non-supportive or repressive parental reactions, on the other hand, have been connected to a child's stored negative affect and disordered behaviors during emotion-evoking events, probably due to an inability or unwillingness to communicate unpleasant sentiments ( 30 , 31 ).

Academic Stress and Students' Depression Levels

Generally, it is believed that mental health improves as we enter into adulthood, and depression disorder starts to decline between the age of 18 and 25. On the other hand, excessive depression rates are the highest pervasiveness during this evolution ( 15 ), and many university students in the particular screen above clinical cut-off scores for huge depression ( 14 , 32 ). Afreen et al. ( 2 ) stated that 30% of high school students experience depression from different perspectives. This means a major chunk of fresh high school graduates are more likely to confront depression or are more vulnerable to encountering depression while enrolling in the university. As the students promote to a higher level of education, there are many factors while calculating the stress like, for example, the syllabus is tough to comprehend, assignments are quite challenging with unrealistic deadlines, and accommodation problems for the students who are shifted from other cities, etc. ( 33 ). Experiences related to university can also contribute while studying depression. The important thing to consider is depression symptoms vary from time to time throughout the academic years ( 34 ); subjective and objective experiences are directly connected to the depression disorder ( 6 ), stress inherent in the university situation likely donates to the difference in university students' depressing experiences.

Stress negatively impacts students' mental peace, and 42.3% of students of Canadian university respondents testified devastating levels of anxiety and stress ( 35 , 36 ). Moreover, there were (58.1%) students who stated academic projects are too tough to handle for them. In Germany, Bulgaria, and Poland, a huge sample of respondents consider assignments a burden on their lives that cannot stand compared to relationships or any other concern in life ( 14 ).

In several countries, university students were studied concerning stress, and results show that depression disorder and apparent anxiety are correlated to educational needs and demands ( 37 ). In their cross-sectional study conducted on a sample of 900 Canadian students, Lörz et al. ( 38 ) concluded that strain confronted due to academic workload relatively has high bleak symptoms even after controlling 13 different risk affecting factors for depression (e.g., demographic features, abusive past, intellectual way, and personality, currently experienced stressful trials in life, societal support). Few have exhibited that students who are tired of educational workload or the students who name them traumatic tend to have more depressing disorders ( 15 ).

These relations can be described by examining the stress and coping behaviors that highlight the role of positive judgments in the stress times ( 39 ), containing the Pancer and colleagues' university modification framework ( 40 , 41 ). The evaluation concept includes examining the circumstances against the available resources, for instance, the effectiveness of coping behavior and societal support. As per these frameworks, if demand is considered unapproachable and resources are lacking, confronted stress and interrelated adverse effects will be high, conceivably giving birth to difficulties in an adjustment like mental instability. Stress triggering situations and the resources in the educational area led to excessive workload, abilities, and study and enhanced time managing skills.

Sketching the overall evaluation frameworks, Pancer et al. ( 40 ) established their framework to exhibit the constructive and damaging adjustment results for the university students dealing with the academic challenges. They stated that while students enroll in the university, they evaluate all the stress-related factors that students confront. They consider them manageable as long as they have sufficient resources. On the other hand, if the available resources do not match the stress factors, it will surely result in a negative relationship, which will lead students to experience depression for sure. Based on the given arguments, the researcher formulates the following hypothesis:

H1: Increased academic stress results in increased depression levels in students.

Family Stress and Students' Depression Levels

According to Topuzoglu et al. ( 42 ), 3% to 16.9% of individuals are affected by depression worldwide. There are fewer chances for general people to confront depression than university students ( 43 , 44 ). In Mirza et al.'s ( 45 ) study, 1/3 of students encounter stress and depression (a subjective mean occurrence of 30.6%) of all participant students, which suggests students have a 9% higher rate of experiencing depression than general people. Depression can destroy life; it greatly impacts living a balanced life. It can impact students' personal and social relationships, educational efficiency, quality of life, affecting their social and family relationships, academic productivity, and bodily operations ( 46 , 47 ). This declines their abilities, and they get demotivated to learn new things, resulting in unsatisfactory performances, and it can even result in university dropouts ( 48 ). Depression is a continuous substantial risk aspect for committing suicide for university students ( 49 ); thus, it is obliged to discover the factors that can give rise to students' depression.

Seventy-five percentage of students in China of an intermediate school are lucky enough to enroll in higher education. The more students pursue higher education, the more they upsurge for depression (in 2002, the depression rate was 5 to 10%, 2011 it rises 24 to 38%) ( 5 ). Generally, University students' age range is late teens to early twenties, i.e., 18–23 years. Abbas ( 50 ) named the era of university students as “post-adolescence. Risk factors for teenage depression have several and complicated problems of individual characteristics and family and educational life ( 51 ). Amongst the huge depression factors, relationship building with family demands a major chunk of attention and time since factors like parenting and family building play an important role in children's development ( 52 , 53 ). Halonen et al. ( 54 ) concluded that factors like family binding play a major role in development, preservation, and driving adolescent depression. Generally speaking, depressed teenagers tend to have a weaker family relationship with their parents than non-depressed teenagers.

There are two types of family risk factors, soft and hard. Hard factors are encountered in families with a weak family building structure, parents are little to no educated at all, and of course, the family status (economically). Several studies have proved that students of hard risk factors are more likely to encounter depression. Firstly, students from broken families have low confidence in every aspect of life, and they are weak at handling emotional breakdowns compared to students from complete and happy families ( 55 – 57 ). Secondly, the university students born in educated families, especially mothers (at least a college degree or higher degree), are less likely to confront depression than the university students born in families with little to no educated families. Secondly, children born with educated mothers or mothers who at least have a college degree tend to be less depressive than the children of less-educated mothers ( 58 ). However, Parker et al. and Mahmood et al. ( 59 , 60 ) stated a strong relationship between depression and mothers with low literacy levels.

On the other hand, Chang et al. ( 46 ) couldn't prove the authentication of this relationship in university students. Thirdly, university students who belong to lower class families tend to have more unstable mental states and are more likely to witness depression than middle or upper-class families ( 61 ). Jadoon et al. and Abbas et al. ( 62 , 63 ) said that there is no link between depression and economic status. Their irrelevance can be because medical students often come from educated and wealthy families and know their jobs are guaranteed as soon as they graduate. Therefore, the relationship between the hard family environment and depression can be known by targeting a huge audience, and there are several factors to consider while gauging this relationship.

The soft family environment is divided into clear factors (parenting style example, family guidelines, rules, the parent with academic knowledge, etc.) and implied factors (family norm, parent-child relationship, communication within the family, etc.). The soft factor is the key factor within the family that cannot be neglected while studying the teenagers' mental state or depression. Families make microsystems within the families, and families are the reason to build and maintain dysfunctional behavior by multiple functional procedures ( 64 ). Amongst the soft family environmental factors, consistency and struggles can be helpful while forecasting the mental health of teenagers. The youth of broken families, family conflict, weak family relationships, and marital issues, especially unhappy married life, are major factors for youth depression ( 65 ). Ruchkin et al. ( 66 ) stated that African Americans usually have weak family bonding, and their teenagers suffer from depression even when controlling for source bias. Whereas, few researchers have stated, family unity is the most serious factor while foreseeing teenagers' depression. Eaton noted that extreme broken family expressions might hurt emotionality and emotional regulation ( 67 , 68 ).

Social circle is also considered while studying depression in teenagers ( 69 – 71 ). The traditional Pakistani culture emphasizes collectivism and peace and focuses on blood relations and sensitive sentiments. Adolescents with this type of culture opt to get inspired by family, but students who live in hostels or share the room with other students lose this family inspiration. This transformation can be a big risk to encounter depression ( 72 ). Furthermore, in Pakistan securing employment is a big concern for university students. If they want a good job in the future, they have to score good grades and maintain GPA from the beginning. They have to face different challenges all at once, like aggressive educational competition, relationships with peers and family, and of course the biggest employment stress all alone. The only source for coping with these pressures is the family that can be helpful for fundings. If the students do not get ample support the chances are of extreme depression. The following hypothesis is suggested:

H2: Increased family stress level results in increased depression levels in students.

Students' Depression Levels and Students' Academic Performance

University students denote many people experiencing a crucial conversion from teenagers to adulthood: a time that is generally considered the most traumatic time in one's ( 73 ). This then gets accumulated with other challenges like changes in social circle and exams tension, which possibly puts students' mental health at stake. It has been concluded that one-third of students experience moderate to severe depression in their entire student life ( 74 ). This is the rate that can be increased compared to the general people ( 75 , 76 ). Students with limited social-class resources tend to be more helpless. Additionally, depressed students in attainable-focused environments (for instance, higher academic institutes) are likely to score lower grades with a sense of failure and more insufficient self-assurance because they consider themselves failures, find the world unfair, and have future uncertainties. Furthermore, students with low self-esteem are rigid to take on challenging assignments and projects, hence they are damaging their educational career ( 77 ).

Depression can be defined as a blend of physical, mental, bodily processes, and benightedness which can make themselves obvious by symptoms like, for example, poor sleep schedule, lack of concentration, ill thoughts, and state of remorse ( 78 , 79 ). But, even after such a huge number of depressions in students and the poor academic system, research has not explored the effect of depression on educational performance. A study has shown that the relationship between emotional stability and academic performance in university students and financial status directly results in poor exam performance. As the study further concluded, it was verified depression is an independent factor ( 80 ). Likewise, students suffering from depression score poor grades, but this relationship vanished if their depression got treated. Apart from confidence breaking, depression is a big failure for their academic life. Students with depression symptoms bunk more classes, assessments, and assignments. They drop courses if they find them challenging than non-depressed peers, and they are more likely to drop out of university completely ( 81 ). Students suffering from depression can become ruthless, ultimately affecting their educational performance and making them moody ( 82 ).

However, it has been stated that the association between anxiety and educational performance is even worse and ambiguous. At the same time, some comprehensive research has noted that the greater the anxiousness, the greater the student's performance. On the other hand, few types of research have shown results where there is no apparent relationship between anxiety and poorer academic grades ( 83 ). Ironically, few studies have proposed that a higher anxiety level may improve academic performance ( 84 , 85 ). Current research by Khan et al. ( 86 ) on the undergraduate medical students stated that even though the high occurrence of huge depression between the students, the students GPA is unharmed. Therefore, based on given differences in various research findings, this research is supposed to find a more specific and clear answer to the shared relationship between students' depression levels and academic performance. Based on the given arguments, the researcher formulates the following hypothesis:

H3: Students' depression level has a significant negative effect on their academic performance.

Methodology

Target population and sampling procedure.

The target audience of this study contains all male and female students studying in the public, private, or semi-government higher education institutions located in Rawalpindi/Islamabad. The researchers collected data from undergraduate and postgraduate students from the management sciences, engineering, and computer science departments. The sampling technique which has been used is the non-probability sampling technique. A questionnaire was given to the students, and they were requested to fill it and give their opinion independently. The questionnaire is based on five points Likert scale.

However, stress and depression are the most common issue among the students, which affects their learning outcomes adversely. A non-probability sampling technique gathered the data from February 2020 to May 2020. The total questionnaires distributed among students were 220, and 186 responses were useful. Of which 119 respondents were females, 66 males, and 1 preferred not to disclose. See Table 1 for detailed demographic information of respondents.

Respondent's demographic profile.


Total received responses	Public	36	19.35%
	Private	117	62.90%
	Semi-government	33	17.74%
Gender	Male	66	35.48%
	Female	119	63.97%
	Prefer not to disclose	1	0.54%
Age	Less than 20	29	15.59%
	21–30	146	78.49%
	31–40	11	5.91%
Qualification	Undergraduates	116	62.36%
	Postgraduates	70	37.63%
Degree Program	Management sciences	68	36.55%
	Engineering	8	4.30%
	Computer science	21	11.29%
	Others	89	47.84%
Semester	1 year	23	12.36%
	2 year	40	21.50%
	3 year	37	19.89%
	4 year	48	25.80%
	More than 4 year	38	20.43%

Measurement Scales

We have divided this instrument into two portions. In the first section, there is demographic information of respondents. The second section includes 14 items based on family stress, academic stress, students' depression levels, and students' academic performance. Academic and family stress were measured by 3 item scale for each construct, and students' depression level and academic performance were measured by 4 item scale for each separate construct. The five-point Likert scale is used to measure the items, in which one signifies strongly disagree (S.D), second signifies disagree (D.A), third signifies neither agree nor disagree (N), fourth signifies agree (A.G), and the fifth signifies strongly agree (S.A). The questionnaire has been taken from Gold Berg ( 87 ), which is modified and used in the given questionnaire.

Data Analysis and Results

The researchers used the SEM technique to determine the correlation between stress, depression, and academic performance. According to Prajogo and Cooper ( 88 ), it can remove biased effects triggered by the measurement faults and shape a hierarchy of latent constructs. SPSS v.23 and AMOS v.23 have been used to analyze the collected data. Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin test is used to test the competence of the sample. The value obtained is 0.868, which fulfills the Kaiser et al. ( 89 ), a minimum requirement of 0.6. The multicollinearity factor was analyzed through the variance inflation factor (VIF). It shows the value of 3.648 and meets the requirement of Hair et al. ( 90 ), which is < 4. It also indicates the absence of multicollinearity. According to Schwarz et al. ( 91 ), common method bias (CMB) is quite complex in quantitative studies. Harman's test of a single factor has been used to analyze CMB. The result obtained for the single factor is 38.63%. As stated by Podsakoff et al. ( 92 ), if any of the factors gives value < 50% of the total variance, it is adequate and does not influence the CMB. Therefore, we can say that there is no issue with CMB. Considering the above results are adequate among the measurement and structural model, we ensure that the data is valued enough to analyze the relation.

Assessment of the Measurement and Structural Model

The association between the manifest factors and their elements is examined by measuring model and verified by the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). CFA guarantees legitimacy and the unidimensional of the measurement model ( 93 ). Peterson ( 94 ) stated that the least required, i.e., 0.8 for the measurement model, fully complies with its Cronbach's alpha value, i.e., 0.802. Therefore, it can confidently be deduced that this measurement model holds satisfactory reliability. As for the psychological legitimacy can be analyzed through factor loading, where the ideal loading is above 0.6 for already established items ( 95 ). Also, according to the recommendation of Molina et al. ( 96 ), the minimum value of the average variance extracted (AVE) for all results is supposed to be >0.5. Table 2 gives detail of the variables and their quantity of things, factor loading, merged consistency, and AVE values.

Instrument reliability and validity.

			reliability
Academic stress	3	0.818–0.941	0.863	0.698
Family stress	3	0.852–0.897	0.778	0.721
Student's depression level	4	0.776–0.921	0.897	0.685
Student's academic performance	4	0.779–0.918	0.914	0.693

A discriminant validity test was performed to ensure the empirical difference of all constructs. For this, it was proposed by Fornell and Larcker ( 97 ) that the variance of the results is supposed to be greater than other constructs. The second indicator of discriminant validity is that the square root values of AVE have a greater correlation between the two indicators. Hair et al. ( 90 ) suggested that the correlation between the pair of predictor variables should not be higher than 0.9. Table 3 shows that discriminant validity recommended by Hair et al. ( 90 ) and Fornell and Larcker ( 97 ) was proved clearly that both conditions are fulfilled and indicates that the constructs have adequate discriminant validity.

Discriminant validity analysis.


Acd. Strs	0.835
Fam. Strs	0.543	0.849
Std. Dep. Lev	0.622	0.583	0.827
Std. Acd. Perf	0.623	0.629	0.579	0.832

Acd. Strs, Academic Stress; Fam. Strs, Family Stress; Std. Dep. Lev, Student's Depression Level; Std. Acd. Perf, Student's Academic Performance .

Kaynak ( 98 ) described seven indicators that ensure that the measurement model fits correctly. These indicators include standardized root mean squared residual (SRMR), root means a square error of approximation (RMSEA), comparative fit index (CFI), normative fit index (NFI), adjusted goodness of fit index (AGFI), the goodness of fit index (GFI) and chi-square to a degree of freedom (x 2 /DF). Tucker-Lewis's index (TLI) is also included to ensure the measurement and structural model's fitness. In the measurement model, the obtained result shows that the value of x 2 /DF is 1.898, which should be lower than 2 suggested by Byrne ( 99 ), and this value also meets the requirement of Bagozzi and Yi ( 100 ), i.e., <3. The RMSEA has the value 0.049, which fully meets the requirement of 0.08, as stated by Browne and Cudeck ( 101 ). Furthermore, the SRMR acquired value is 0.0596, which assemble with the required need of < 0.1 by Hu and Bentler ( 102 ). Moreover, according to Bentler and Bonett ( 103 ), McDonald and Marsh ( 104 ), and Bagozzi and Yi ( 100 ), the ideal value is 0.9, and the values obtained from NFI, GFI, AGFI, CFI, and TLI are above the ideal value.

Afterward, the structural model was analyzed and achieved the findings, which give the value of x 2 /DF 1.986. According to Browne and Cudeck ( 101 ), the RMSEA value should not be greater than 0.08, and the obtained value of RMSEA is 0.052, which meets the requirement perfectly. The minimum requirement of Hu and Bentler ( 102 ) should be <0.1, for the structural model fully complies with the SRMR value 0.0616. According to a recommendation of McDonald and Marsh ( 104 ) and Bagozzi and Yi ( 100 ), the ideal value must be up to 0.9, and Table 4 also shows that the values of NFI, GFI, AGFI, CFI, and TLI, which are above than the ideal value and meets the requirement. The above results show that both the measurement and structural models are ideally satisfied with the requirements and the collected data fits correctly.

Analysis of measurement and structural model.


Recommended value	≤ 3	≥0.9	≥0.9	≥0.9	≥0.9	≥0.9	≤0.08	≤0.08
Measurement model	1.898	0.9	0.91	0.914	0.91	0.91	0.049	0.0596
Structural model	1.986	0.91	0.91	0.918	0.92	0.92	0.052	0.0616

Testing of Hypotheses

The SEM technique is used to examine the hypotheses. Each structural parameter goes along with the hypothesis. The academic stress (Acd. Strs) with the value β = 0.293 while the p -value is 0.003. These outcomes show a significant positive relationship between academic stress (Acd. Strs) and students' depression levels (Std. Dep. Lev). With the β = 0.358 and p = 0.001 values, the data analysis discloses that the family stress (Fam. Strs) has a significant positive effect on the students' depression level (Std. Dep. Lev). However, the student's depression level (Std. Dep. Lev) also has a significant negative effect on their academic performance (Std. Acd. Perf) with the values of β = −0.319 and p = 0.001. Therefore, the results supported the following hypotheses H 1 , H 2 , and H 3 . The sub-hypotheses analysis shows that the results are statistically significant and accepted. In Table 5 , the details of the sub-hypotheses and the principals are explained precisely. Please see Table 6 to review items with their mean and standard deviation values. Moreover, Figure 2 represents the structural model.

Examining the hypotheses.

				-value
H	Acd. Strs → Std. Dev. Lev	0.201	2.021	0.039	Accepted
H	Fam. Strs → Std. Dep. Lev	0.358	3.997	0.001	Accepted
H	Std. Dep. Lev → Std. Acd. Perf	−0.319	−3.402	0.001	Accepted

Description of items, mean, and standard deviation.


Mental health has a valuable impact on students' academic learning.	3.26	1.752
Academic pressure leads to stress in students' life.	3.25	1.530
I have difficulty in understanding basic concepts.	2.95	1.272
I have to revise the things again and again to develop an understanding.	3.14	1.352
I have lost interest in academic aspects that used to be important for me.	2.83	1.351
Family issues leads to stress in students' life.	3.37	1.504
Because of family issues I cannot concentrate on my studies.	3.19	1.468
I am not able to sleep properly because of family issues.	3.02	1.424
Depression negatively affects a student's motivation to learn.	3.37	1.405
Unfair treatment by teachers causes academic depression in students.	3.12	1.620
Depression has negatively affected my learning capabilities.	2.99	1.280
Depression has negatively affected my academic grades.	3.19	1.201
Sometimes I don't see value in my life. I feel depressed in the class.	2.96 2.91	1.398 1.310

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Structural model.

Discussion and Conclusion

These findings add to our knowledge of how teenage depression is predicted by academic and familial stress, leading to poor academic performance, and they have practical implications for preventative and intervention programs to safeguard adolescents' mental health in the school context. The outcomes imply that extended academic stress positively impacts students' depression levels with a β of 0.293 and a p -value sof 0.003. However, according to Wang et al. ( 5 ), a higher level of academic stress is linked to a larger level of school burnout, which leads to a higher degree of depression. Satinsky et al. ( 105 ) also claimed that university officials and mental health specialists have expressed worry about depression and anxiety among Ph.D. students, and that his research indicated that depression and anxiety are quite common among Ph.D. students. Deb et al. ( 106 ) found the same results and concluded that depression, anxiety, behavioral difficulties, irritability, and other issues are common among students who are under a lot of academic stress. Similarly, Kokou-Kpolou et al. ( 107 ) revealed that depressive symptoms are common among university students in France. They also demonstrate that socioeconomic and demographic characteristics have a role.

However, Wang et al. ( 5 ) asserted that a higher level of academic stress is associated with a higher level of school burnout, which in return, leads to a higher level of depression. Furthermore, Satinsky et al. ( 105 ) also reported that university administrators and mental health clinicians have raised concerns about depression and anxiety and concluded in his research that depression and anxiety are highly prevalent among Ph.D. students. Deb et al. ( 106 ) also reported the same results and concluded that Depression, anxiety, behavioral problems, irritability, etc. are few of the many problems reported in students with high academic stress. Similary, Kokou-Kpolou et al. ( 107 ) confirmed that university students in France have a high prevalence of depressive symptoms. They also confirm that socio-demographic factors and perceived stress play a predictive role in depressive symptoms among university students. As a result, academic stress has spread across all countries, civilizations, and ethnic groups. Academic stress continues to be a serious problem impacting a student's mental health and well-being, according to the findings of this study.

With the β= 0.358 and p = 0.001 values, the data analysis discloses that the family stress (Fam. Strs) has a significant positive effect on the students' depression level (Std. Dep. Lev). Aleksic ( 108 ) observed similar findings and concluded that many and complicated concerns of personal traits, as well as both home and school contexts, are risk factors for teenage depression. Similarly, Wang et al. ( 109 ) indicated that, among the possible risk factors for depression, family relationships need special consideration since elements like parenting styles and family dynamics influence how children grow. Family variables influence the onset, maintenance, and course of juvenile depression, according to another study ( 110 ). Depressed adolescents are more likely than normal teenagers to have bad family and parent–child connections.

Conversely, students' depression level has a significantly negative impact on their academic performance with β and p -values of −0.319 and 0.001. According ( 111 ), anxiety and melancholy have a negative influence on a student's academic performance. Adolescents and young adults suffer from depression, which is a common and dangerous mental illness. It's linked to an increase in family issues, school failure, especially among teenagers, suicide, drug addiction, and absenteeism. While the transition to adulthood is a high-risk period for depression in general ( 5 ), young people starting college may face extra social and intellectual challenges that increase their risk of melancholy, anxiety, and stress ( 112 ). Students' high rates of depression, anxiety, and stress have serious consequences. Not only may psychological morbidity have a negative impact on a student's academic performance and quality of life, but it may also disturb family and institutional life ( 107 ). Therefore, long-term untreated depression, anxiety, or stress can have a negative influence on people's ability to operate and produce, posing a public health risk ( 113 ).

Theoretical Implications

The current study makes various contributions to the existing literature on servant leadership. Firstly, it enriches the limited literature on the role of family and academic stress and their impact on students' depression levels. Although, a few studies have investigated stress and depression and its impact on Students' academic performance ( 14 , 114 ), however, their background i.e., family and institutions are largely ignored.

Secondly, it explains how the depression level impacts students' academic learning, specifically in the Asian developing countries region. Though a substantial body of empirical research has been produced in the last decade on the relationship between students' depression levels and its impact on their academic achievements, however, the studies conducted in the Pakistani context are scarce ( 111 , 115 ). Thus, this study adds further evidence to prior studies conducted in different cultural contexts and validates the assumption that family and academic stress are key sources depression and anxiety among students which can lead toward their low academic grades and their overall performance.

This argument is in line with our proposed theory in the current research i.e., cognitive appraisal theory which was presented in 1966 by psychologist Richard Lazarus. Lazarus's theory is called the appraisal theory of stress, or the transactional theory of stress because the way a person appraises the situation affects how they feel about it and consequently it's going to affect his overall quality of life. In line with the theory, it suggests that events are not good or bad, but the way we think about them is positive or negative, and therefore has an impact on our stress levels.

Practical Implications

According to the findings of this study, high levels of depressive symptoms among college students should be brought to the attention of relevant departments. To prevent college student depression, relevant departments should improve the study and life environment for students, try to reduce the generation of negative life events, provide adequate social support for students, and improve their cognitive and coping capacities to improve their mental qualities.

Stress and depression, on the other hand, may be managed with good therapy, teacher direction, and family support. The outcomes of this study provide an opportunity for academic institutions to address students' psychological well-being and requirements. Emotional well-being support services for students at Pakistan's higher education institutions are lacking in many of these institutions, which place a low priority on the psychological requirements of these students. As a result, initiatives that consistently monitor and enhance kids' mental health are critical. Furthermore, stress-reduction treatments such as biofeedback, yoga, life-skills training, mindfulness meditation, and psychotherapy have been demonstrated to be useful among students. Professionals in the sector would be able to adapt interventions for pupils by understanding the sources from many spheres.

Counseling clinics should be established at colleges to teach students about stress and sadness. Counselors should instill in pupils the importance of positive conduct and decision-making. The administration of the school should work to create a good and safe atmosphere. Furthermore, teachers should assume responsibility for assisting and guiding sad pupils, since this will aid in their learning and performance. Support from family members might also help you get through difficult times.

Furthermore, these findings support the importance of the home environment as a source of depression risk factors among university students, implying that family-based treatments and improvements are critical in reducing depression among university students.

Limitations and Future Research Implications

The current study has a few limitations. The researcher gathered data from the higher education level of university students studying in Islamabad and Rawalpindi institutions. In the future, researchers are required to widen their region and gather information from other cities of Pakistan, for instance, Lahore, Karachi, etc. Another weakness of the study is that it is cross-sectional in nature. We need to do longitudinal research in the future to authoritatively assert the cause-and-effect link between academic and familial stress and their effects on students' academic performance since cross-sectional studies cannot establish significant cause and effect relationships. Finally, the study's relatively small sample size is a significant weakness. Due to time and budget constraints, it appears that the capacity to perform in-depth research of all firms in Pakistan's pharmaceutical business has been limited. Even though the findings are substantial and meaningful, the small sample size is predicted to limit generalizability and statistical power. This problem can be properly solved by increasing the size of the sample by the researchers, in future researches.

Data Availability Statement

Ethics statement.

Ethical review and approval was not required for the study on human participants in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements. Written informed consent for participation was not required for this study in accordance with the national legislation and the institutional requirements.

Author Contributions

All authors contributed to conceptualization, formal analysis, investigation, methodology, writing and editing of the original draft, and read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

This work was funded by the 2020 Heilongjiang Province Philosophy and Social Science Research Planning Project on Civic and Political Science in Universities (Grant No. 20SZB01). This work is supported by the Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research, and Sport of the Slovak Republic and the Slovak Academy Sciences as part of the research project VEGA 1/0797/20: Quantification of Environmental Burden Impacts of the Slovak Regions on Health, Social and Economic System of the Slovak Republic.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher's Note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Acknowledgments

Authors would like to thank all persons who directly or indirectly participated in the completion of this manuscript.

Academic Pressure: Causes, Effects, and Coping Strategies

Raising children to be successful is a priority for many parents and guardians. This involves regularly planning their future and doing what it takes to get there academically. While this can be productive and encourage kids to aim high, the cycle of always looking ahead in one’s academic life can be harmful. Many young adults go through a tremendous amount of academic pressure to get good grades, get into a prestigious college, and prepare for a successful career. Here, we’ll examine academic pressure, its causes and effects, and some of the most effective coping strategies.

What is Academic Pressure?

Academic pressure is “the tension, discomfort, and other emotions caused by the pressure from school, family, and society in the learning process [ * ].”

From an early age, children are highly encouraged or sometimes even required by parents, guardians, or educators to think ahead and achieve academic milestones. This pattern of constantly anticipating the next step can be stressful for students, thus resulting in tension, discomfort, and other negative emotions.

While it is common for young students to be motivated by mild academic pressure, many also have negative experiences with such pressure, especially if it is in excess. Part of a young person’s development through adolescence is learning how to balance the demands of life, and academic pressure can end up hindering one’s growth.

Causes of Academic Pressure on Students

There are several causes of academic pressure on students, including the following:

Pressure from parents or guardians. Though this is usually well-intentioned, it is quite common for parents and guardians to be one of the sources of a student’s academic pressure. Parents and guardians often want the best for their children and, in turn, place extra pressure on them to excel in school.
Pressure from heavy coursework. A student may also feel academic pressure from heavy coursework. It can be stressful to handle many difficult assignments from different classes all at once. The demands of each class may vary but can contribute to academic stress and pressure.
Pressure from poor organization and time management. Students are still honing their skills in adolescence, so it is not uncommon to find teenagers who cannot manage their time or organize their priorities very well.
Pressure from exams. Tests, exams, and any kind of assessment can put a lot of pressure on young people to perform well.
Pressure from the self. Living in a culture focused on performance also creates intense competition, which can manifest as academic pressure in adolescents who internalize it.
Pressure from other external sources. Many external factors can influence how much academic pressure a student experiences, such as the increasingly competitive nature of getting accepted into a good university. For instance, a student may observe that their friends excel in their studies, which can pressure them to perform well academically.

Signs That a Student is Experiencing Excessive Academic Pressure

Academic pressure is not necessarily a bad thing. It can be beneficial in pushing students to rise to challenges in the academic world. However, it can be detrimental in excess. Here are the signs that a student is experiencing excessive academic pressure:

Extreme competitiveness
Obsession with grades
Working constantly
Changes in appetite
Difficulty sleeping
Inability relaxing
Abusing stimulants (e.g., caffeine, prescription medications, etc.)
Refusal to socialize
Loss of interest in previously enjoyed pastimes

Effects of Academic Pressure on Students

Exactly how does academic pressure affect students? Here are the various ways:

Physical Health

A student may notice the following changes in their physical health following bouts of academic pressure:

Loss in appetite
Frequent headaches
Gastrointestinal issues

These physical symptoms indicate excessive stress and should be addressed immediately [ * ].

Mental Health

Academic pressure can also affect one’s mental health. Excessive academic pressure can cause the following:

Poor sleep quality
Substance use
High levels of stress and burnout
Depersonalization

Social and Relationships

Studies have found that academic pressure significantly affects adolescents’ problem behavior through parent-child conflict while also affecting subjective well-being [ * ]. This results in deviant behavior such as disruptions in sleep cycles, experimenting with sexual activity, and substance use.

Too much academic pressure may also lead to detrimental effects on students’ relationships. Some develop a highly competitive nature, which may cause friction with peers. Isolating oneself to strive for academic excellence may also lead to feelings of loneliness.

Coping Strategies for Academic Pressure

Excessive academic pressure may have negative effects, but there are coping strategies students can use to combat it.

Arrange a study group: This can be especially helpful if a student isn’t motivated by a subject. It helps to reward oneself after completing each section of the module or chapter.
Work in a café or library: The home or school environment can sometimes get distracting. Working somewhere quiet, like a nearby café or library, can help one focus and get work done.
Request for assignments early: If students can get ahead of their work, then it may save them the trouble of stressing over assignments that pile up later on.
Avoid comparing to others: It is easier said than done, but students should try not to judge themselves based on their friends’ and classmates’ goals and achievements. Adolescents can set their own goals and take pride in their hard work.
Keep health in check: Maintaining good sleeping, eating, and exercise habits can significantly lower stress levels and help combat academic pressure.
Maintain balance: A balanced lifestyle is essential to succeeding while maintaining physical and mental well-being. Aside from keeping healthy, students can do things like spend time with friends, engage in their favorite hobbies, and make time to rest. Forming these habits now will be useful for life after school.
Remember what matters: Parents and guardians can shape how academic pressure affects their children by focusing on what really matters. Adolescents who believe their parents or guardians value character traits more than achievement tend to show better mental health outcomes and lower risk-taking behaviors.

The Bottom Line

Excessive levels of academic pressure on students can lead to issues such as depression, anxiety, stress, and physical conditions like fatigue. While mild academic pressure is healthy and helpful, other negative effects of academic pressure on students are not to be underestimated. Using tools such as stress management worksheets can be helpful, but it is also important to address the root cause of academic pressure. The students of today are the future of tomorrow, so necessary steps must be taken to ensure their well-being.

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This insightful blog delves into the often-overlooked pressures students face in their academic journey. It provides a nuanced understanding of the sources and effects of academic pressure, offering valuable insights to help parents, educators, and students recognize and address these challenges with empathy and support.

suhani kishnani on May 22, 2024

Please note: comments must be approved before they are published.

Essay about Parental Pressure: Why High School Students Should Stop

Parental Pressure within High School Students Should Stop. Back in High School, I had a best friend named Blen. We were very close. We were more like sisters. She used to tell me everything that happened in her life especially about her parents. I can say that her parents were very strict. The only person they need her to be with was just me. They used to tell her not to make a lot of friends. Even though Blen was a socializing person, she didn’t get a chance to make a lot of friends while she was in High School. She used to be really angry about those senseless rules of her Parents.

These students believe that their parents are motivators on every steps of their lives. While others, including myself consider this kind of pressure as a negative effect. I believe that one of the biggest stress of a student immerges from Parental Pressure. Parental Pressure gives motivation but at the same time a hard time to worry about. Yes, every parents want their children to succeed and be in a good position as they are growing up. Don’t get me wrong! I am not trying to say parents should stop telling us what to do or control us in some kind of way.

Parental Pressure Is Good Until It Is Bad Speech

Children who are constantly under pressure from their parents may start to feel overwhelmed and stressed. This can lead to them feeling anxious and depressed, and they may even start to rebel against their parents. In extreme cases, parental pressure can lead to self-harm or suicide.

It is therefore important for parents to find a balance. They should provide support and encouragement, but not put too much pressure on their children. If you are a parent, take the time to talk to your children and find out what they are interested in and what they want to achieve. Then help them to set realistic goals and provide the appropriate level of support.

If you are a child who is feeling overwhelmed by parental pressure, it is important to communicate with your parents. Let them know how you are feeling and why you think the pressure is too much. If they are receptive, they may be able to adjust their approach. If not, seek out support from other adults, such as teachers or counsellors. Remember that you always have the right to say no, and that you should never feel like you have to do something that makes you uncomfortable or puts you at risk.

Positive Effects Of Parental Pressure

Parental pressure can have a positive effect on children. It can motivate them to do their best and achieve their goals. Parental pressure can also help children learn how to cope with disappointment and setbacks. It can teach them how to persevere and work hard towards their goals.

Parental pressure can be a powerful motivator for children. It can push them to do their best and reach their potential. Parental pressure can also help children learn how to cope with disappointment and setbacks. It can teach them how to persevere and work hard towards their goals.

Parental pressure is not always easy to deal with, but it can be a positive force in a child’s life. It can help them learn how to set and achieve goals, and how to cope with disappointment and setbacks. Parental pressure can be a powerful motivator for children, so long as it is used in the right way.

Negative Effects Of Parental Pressure

Parental pressure can have many negative effects on children. It can cause them to feel anxious, stressed, and even depressed. Additionally, it can lead to behavioral problems and difficulty concentrating in school. If you are a parent, it is important to be aware of the potential risks of putting too much pressure on your child. Here are some of the negative effects of parental pressure:

1. Anxiety and stress: Parental pressure can cause children to feel anxious and stressed. This can lead to problems such as insomnia, headaches, and stomachaches. Additionally, it can make it difficult for children to concentrate in school or participate in other activities.

2. Depression: Parental pressure can also lead to depression in children. This may manifest as feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness. Additionally, children may lose interest in activities that they used to enjoy, withdraw from friends and family, or engage in self-destructive behaviors.

3. Behavioral problems: Parental pressure can cause children to act out in negative ways. They may become aggressive, disobedient, or defiant. Additionally, they may engage in risky behaviors such as drinking alcohol or using drugs.

4. Difficulty concentrating: Parental pressure can make it difficult for children to focus and concentrate in school. This can lead to lower grades and difficulty keeping up with their peers. Additionally, it may make it difficult for children to participate in extracurricular activities or pursue other interests.

My argument is that parents should be more lenient on their children rather than being strict or putting a whole lot of pressure on them. “Some parents see their children as extensions of themselves, rather than as separate people with their own hopes and dreams,” said study co-author Professor Brad Bushman, of Ohio State University (McDermott). Most parents, especially when it comes to going to college, being in any sport team that their parents used to play when they were in high school, and also what they are planning to major in college.

For example in my country, some parents think that the only way to be successful is being a doctor or going to any medical school. Which means if a student wants to go to a dance school, his/her parents are not going to be satisfactory with it. They are not going to allow him/her to do what they want to do based on their interest. So what they do next is put a whole lot of pressure to convince their children change their minds on what they will be majoring in. Students from these kind of parents usually change their mind because they respect their parents’ suggestions and they want to make their parents happy more than anything in this world.

In my country, most students choose their major in college based on their parents’ suggestion. Do you think this is fair? No. I understand that every parent wants the best for their children more than anything. Of course, parents have to tell their children what they want them to do. But this only has to work until they become a high schooler. Once a child becomes a high schooler, he/she has to learn how to take responsibilities and make an accurate decisions throughout their lives. High School has to be the place where you start to think and decide what is good or bad for you without letting your parents take part in it.

Almost all parents are strict about partying. They won’t allow their children to party. Their reason for this is usually because they think going out with friends will lead them not to good things but bad. This is the one thing that never made sense to me. Just because I went out partying, it doesn’t mean I am being a bad person or something. Rather than telling their children not to go out for a party, I feel like parents should be lenient about it and tell their children what to do while they are partying. Don’t get me wrong again!

I am not saying being a punk is a freedom and parents should not take part in our lives. What I am trying to prove is that parental pressure is not the best way to handle things. Parental pressure can cause depression. Jaime Budzienski emphasizes that “Researchers found that children of parents who put pressure on them by “over-managing” their lives at school ended up having higher levels of depression, decreased satisfaction with life and lower levels of autonomy and competence”(par 4). In my country, most parents force their children to stay home and study for their classes.

They don’t want them to have friends and socialize with different kind of people because they want them to concentrate on their studies. Having friends or socializing has nothing to do with your studies unless you are spending every single time them. Being a loner might cause depression. From this perspective, I can say that I am from a negative environment. I am from Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, Pressuring children is like a tradition. Back in the days, there was a strange tradition called Early Marriage. So basically teenage girls were obligated and pressured by their parents to marry a man who is so many years older than them.

What was worse was that these girls were supposed to marry before their eighteens birthday. They could not say no because it’s a tradition and they also don’t want to disrespect or disobey their parents. Can you imagine your twelve years daughter marrying a thirty years man? Parental pressure can also cause stress. Jaime Budzienski emphasizes that “Sleep deprivation, eating disorders, excessive worrying, cheating, burnout, loss of interest in hobbies or withdrawing from friends and family” can be significances of too much parental pressure (par. ). Whenever I talk about stress caused by Parental Pressure, I think about my neighbor who committed suicide because of his father’s pressure on him. So what happened was on his senior year of college, he didn’t have the credit he was supposed to have in order to graduate. He tried his best to earn his credits back. He studied day and night. He neither could sleep nor eat. He didn’t even think about explaining the situation to his dad because he was scared of him like hell. Even though he tried a lot, he couldn’t be able to graduate that year.

He hung himself after writing a letter saying that he was sorry for not making his dad proud. If his dad wasn’t being so strict to him, he could have been successful. My parents used to be very strict as well. When my oldest sister was in high school, my dad used to pressure her a lot. He was the one who drop and pick her up from school. She was not allowed to go to her friends’ birthday parties. She was not allowed to talk to boys for any kind of reason. Whenever she was caught talking to a boy at school, she used to get whipped. What was worse was that she was only allowed to use her phone on the weekends.

My sister, like myself and most high school students, doesn’t like doing what she doesn’t believe in doing. So usually not do what my dad wanted her to do. Whenever she wanted to party with her friends, she used to snick out. Watching my sister do what she is not supposed to do made my dad really mad and forced him to be more lenient on us rather than putting a whole lot of pressure on us. Although most parents are strict on their children, it is true that they have a positive effect on them. Sometimes parents should be ambitious on their children.

You as a Parent, do you think this way of treating your children really works? I don’t think so, because most children including myself don’t like doing what we are obligated to do. I believe that cultures and traditions are making most parents think backward. This should definitely stop. If parents don’t stop pressuring their children, they might rebel. Forcing children, which is against what they want to do, might also cause parental regrets. These regrets might be painful. Most parents may think that the pressure they put is just little, but there has to be a limit for everything.

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Peer Pressure Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on peer pressure.

Peer pressure can be both negative and positive. Because if a person is a peer pressuring you for a good cause then it is motivation. Motivation is essential for the growth of a person. While peer pressure for a bad cause will always lead you to a disastrous situation.

Therefore it necessary for a person to not get influenced by the people around them. They should analyze the outcome of the deed in a strict manner. So that they no may commit anything harmful for themselves. As this world is full of bad people, so you need to be careful before trusting anybody.

Advantages of Peer Pressure

Peer pressure is advantageous in many ways. Most importantly it creates a sense of motivation in the person. Which further forces the person to cross the barrier and achieve something great. Furthermore, it boosts the confidence of a person. Because our brain considers people’s opinions and makes them a priority.

Many salesmen and Entrepreneurs use this technique to influence people to buy their products. Whenever we are in a social meet we always get various recommendations. Therefore when a person gets these recommendations the brain already starts liking it. Or it creates a better image of that thing. This forces the person to buy the product or at least consider it.

This peer pressure technique also works in creating a better character of a person. For instance, when we recommend someone for a particular job, the interviewer already gets a better image of that person. Because he is recommended by a person the interviewer trusts. Therefore there is a great chance of that person to get hired.

Above all the main advantage of peer pressure can be in youth. If a young person gets influenced by an individual or a group of people. He can achieve greater heights in his career.

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Disadvantages of Peer Pressure

There are various disadvantages of peer pressure which can harm a person in many ways. If any person is not willing to perform a task then the peer pressure can be frustrating to him.

Furthermore, peer pressure should not be in an excessive manner. Because it lands a negative impact on the person. A person should be of the mindset of listening to himself first. While considering opinions in favor of him.

Peer pressure in youth from a bad company can lead a person to a nasty situation. Furthermore, it can also hamper a student’s career and studies if not averted. Youth these days are much influenced by the glamorous life of celebrities.

And since they follow them so much, these people become their peers. Thus they do such things that they should not. Drugs and smoking are major examples of this. Moreover most shocking is that the minors are even doing these things. This can have adverse effects on their growth and career.

It is necessary to judge the outcome of a deed before getting influenced by peers. Furthermore, peer pressure should always be secondary. Your own thoughts and wants should always have the first priority.

Q1. What is peer pressure?

A1 . Peer pressure is the influence on people by their peers. As a result, people start following their opinions and lifestyle. Furthermore, it is considering a person or his opinion above all and giving him the priority.

Q2. Which sector of the society is the peer pressure adversely affecting?

A2 . Peer pressure has adverse effects on the youth of society. Some false influencers are playing with the minds of the youngsters. As a result, the youth is going in the wrong direction and ruining their career opportunities.

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FACT FOCUS: A look at false claims around Kamala Harris and her campaign for the White House

Democrats are quickly rallying around Vice President Kamala Harris as their likely presidential nominee after President Joe Biden’s ground-shaking decision to bow out of the 2024 race.

Vice President Kamala Harris arrives to speak from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Monday, July 22, 2024, during an event with NCAA college athletes. This is her first public appearance since President Joe Biden endorsed her to be the next presidential nominee of the Democratic Party. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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The announcement that Vice President Kamala Harris will seek the Democratic nomination for president is inspiring a wave of false claims about her eligibility and her background. Some first emerged years ago, while others only surfaced after President Joe Biden’s decision to end his bid for a second term.

Here’s a look at the facts.

CLAIM: Harris is not an American citizen and therefore cannot serve as commander in chief.

THE FACTS: Completely false . Harris is a natural born U.S. citizen. She was born on Oct. 20, 1964, in Oakland, California, according to a copy of her birth certificate, obtained by The Associated Press.

Her mother, a cancer researcher from India, and her father, an economist from Jamaica, met as graduate students at the University of California, Berkeley.

Under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, anyone born on U.S. soil is considered a natural born U.S. citizen and eligible to serve as either the vice president or president.

“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside,” reads the amendment.

There is no question or legitimate debate about whether a citizen like Harris is eligible to serve as president or vice president, said Jessica Levinson, a professor at Loyola Law School.

“So many legal questions are really nuanced — this isn’t one of those situations,” Levinson told the AP on Monday.

Still, social media posts making the debunked assertion that Harris cannot serve as president went viral soon after Biden announced Sunday that he was dropping out of the race and would back Harris for president.

“Kamala Harris is not eligible to run for President,” read one post on X that was liked more than 34,000 times. “Neither of her parents were natural born American citizens when she was born.”

False assertions about Harris’ eligibility began circulating in 2019 when she launched her bid for the presidency. They got a boost, thanks in part to then-President Donald Trump, when Biden selected her as his running mate.

“I heard today that she doesn’t meet the requirements,” the Republican said of Harris in 2019.

CLAIM: Harris is not Black.

THE FACTS: This is false. Harris is Black and Indian . Her father, Donald Harris, is a Black man who was born in Jamaica. Shyamala Gopalan, her mother, was born in southern India. Harris has spoken publicly for many years, including in her 2019 autobiography , about how she identifies with the heritage of both her parents.

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Despite ample evidence to the contrary, social media users are making erroneous claims about Harris’ race.

“Just a reminder that Kamala Harris @KamalaHarris isn’t black,” reads one X post that had received approximately 42,000 likes and 20,400 shares as of Monday. “She Indian American. She pretends to be black as part of the delusional, Democrat DEI quota.”

But Harris is both Black and Indian. Indeed, she is the first woman, Black person and person of South Asian descent to serve as vice president. This fact is highlighted in her biography on WhiteHouse.gov and she has spoken about her ethnicity on many occasions.

Harris wrote in her autobiography, “The Truths We Hold: An American Journey,” that she identifies with the heritage of both her mother and father.

“My mother, grandparents, aunts, and uncle instilled us with pride in our South Asian roots,” she wrote. “Our classical Indian names harked back to our heritage, and we were raised with a strong awareness and appreciation for Indian culture.”

In the next paragraph, she adds, “My mother understood very well that she was raising two black daughters.” Harris again refers to herself as a “black woman” in the book’s next chapter.

CLAIM: Harris got her start by having an affair with a married man, California politician Willie Brown.

THE FACTS: This is missing some important context. Brown was separated from his wife during the relationship, which was not a secret.

Brown, 90, is a former mayor of San Francisco who was serving as speaker of the California State Assembly in the 1990s when he and Harris were in a relationship. Brown had separated from his wife in 1982.

“Yes, we dated. It was more than 20 years ago,” Brown wrote in 2020 in the San Francisco Chronicle under the article title, “Sure, I dated Kamala Harris. So what?”

He wrote that he supported Harris’ first race to be San Francisco district attorney — just as he has supported a long list of other California politicians, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Harris, 59, was state attorney general from 2011-2017 and served in the Senate from 2017 until 2021, when she became vice president. She has been married to Doug Emhoff since 2014.

Harris’ critics have used the past relationship to question her qualifications, as Fox News personality Tomi Lahren did when she wrote on social media in 2019: “Kamala did you fight for ideals or did you sleep your way to the top with Willie Brown.” Lahren later apologized for the comment.

Trump and some of his supporters have also highlighted the nearly three-decade old relationship in recent attacks on Harris .

CLAIM: An Inside Edition clip of television host Montel Williams holding hands with Harris and another woman is proof that Harris was his “side piece.”

THE FACTS: The clip shows Montel with Harris and his daughter, Ashley Williams. Harris and Williams, a former marine who hosted “The Montel Williams Show” for more than a decade, dated briefly in the early 2000s.

In the clip, taken from a 2019 Inside Edition segment , Williams can be seen posing for photographs and holding hands with both women as they arrive at the 2001 Eighth Annual Race to Erase MS in Los Angeles.

But social media users are misrepresenting the clip, using it as alleged evidence that Harris was Montel’s “side piece” — a term used to describe a person, typically a woman, who has a sexual relationship with a man in a monogamous relationship.

Williams addressed the false claims in an X post on Monday, writing in reference to the Inside Edition clip, “as most of you know, that is my daughter to my right.” Getty Images photos from the Los Angeles gala identify the women as Harris and Ashley Williams.

In 2019, Williams described his relationship with Harris in a post on X, then known as Twitter.

“@KamalaHarris and I briefly dated about 20 years ago when we were both single,” he wrote in an X post at the time. “So what? I have great respect for Sen. Harris. I have to wonder if the same stories about her dating history would have been written if she were a male candidate?”

CLAIM: Harris promised to inflict the “vengeance of a nation” on Trump supporters.

THE FACTS: A fabricated quote attributed to Harris is spreading online five years after it first surfaced.

In the quote, Harris supposedly promises that if Trump is defeated in 2020, Trump supporters will be targeted by the federal government: “Once Trump’s gone and we have regained our rightful place in the White House, look out if you supported him and endorsed his actions, because we’ll be coming for you next. You will feel the vengeance of a nation.”

The quote was shared again on social media this week. One post on X containing an image of the quote was shared more than 22,000 times as of Monday afternoon.

The remarks didn’t come from Harris , but from a satirical article published online in August 2019. Shortly after, Trump supporters like musician Ted Nugent reposted the comments without noting they were fake.

CLAIM: A video shows Harris saying in a speech: “Today is today. And yesterday was today yesterday. Tomorrow will be today tomorrow. So live today, so the future today will be as the past today as it is tomorrow.”

THE FACTS: Harris never said this. Footage from a 2023 rally on reproductive rights at Howard University, her alma mater, was altered to make it seem as though she did.

In the days after Harris headlined the Washington rally, Republicans mocked a real clip of her speech, with one critic dubbing her remarks a “word salad,” the AP reported at the time .

Harris says in the clip: “So I think it’s very important — as you have heard from so many incredible leaders — for us, at every moment in time, and certainly this one, to see the moment in time in which we exist and are present, and to be able to contextualize it, to understand where we exist in the history and in the moment as it relates not only to the past, but the future.”

NARAL Pro-Choice America, an abortion rights nonprofit whose president also spoke at the rally, livestreamed the original footage. It shows Harris making the “moment in time” remark, but not the “today is today” comment.

The White House’s transcript of Harris’ remarks also does not include the statement from the altered video. Harris’ appearance at the event came the same day that Biden announced their reelection bid .

Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck .

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Parents might feel the need to pressure their children for many reasons. According to a 2021 study, 86% of parents who participated said that they pressured their kids because they grew up with ...
The Psychological Impact of Parental Pressure on Kids and Teens
The Mental Health Consequences of Parental Pressure. Research shows that parental pressure, whether direct or indirect, can take a major toll on kids' psychological well-being.
Essay on Parental Pressure
Students are often asked to write an essay on Parental Pressure in their schools and colleges. And if you're also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.
How Pressure from Parents Can Negatively Affect Kids
Encourage your child to do their best. Focus on the process, rather than the result. If you find yourself placing too much pressure on your child, ask yourself why their performance, test score ...
The Dangers of Putting Too Much Pressure on Kids
Overview . A 2013 survey by the Pew Research Center found that 64% of Americans say parents do not put enough pressure on children to do well in school. Children might be less likely to perform at their best if they don't get enough pressure from their parents.
Parental Pressure on Kids
Parental pressure can affect children's development adversely. In today's scenario, the pressure on kids to perform well academically and to excel in various co-curricular activities is intense. Read on to know more about how parental pressure affects kids.
Vaishvi Seth: Parental Pressure
Our world is characterised by over-burdening parents forcing their children to conform to the norms of society to reach the epitome of the 'perfect child'. In an eye-opening speech, Vaishvi Seth explains the various effects of parental pressure and how deeply it can impact children.
Parents' Influence on a Child Essay: How Parents Affect Behavior and
Introduction. Parents are means of structuring their child's future. They have a very crucial role to play in their child's growth and his/her conduct.
Have You Mastered the Tricky Art of Parental Pressure?
Most parents prod their children to succeed in some way — athletically, academically, or artistically. Without meaning to, however, you may be putting your child into a pressure-cooker.
Exploring the Nexus: Parental Pressure, Student Perceptions, and
How does parental pressure affect students' perceptions and performance? Read this comprehensive research on middle and high school students.
Parental Support and Adolescents' Coping with Academic Stressors: A
Introduction. For adolescents around the world, academic workload and other school-related demands are stressors that prompt many coping responses (Raftery-Helmer & Grolnick, 2015).Without adequate coping, academic stressors can have a cumulative negative effect and substantially interfere with motivation, engagement, and optimal learning, change future opportunities (Skinner & Saxton, 2019 ...
Rising parental expectations linked to perfectionism in college students
Washington — Rising parental expectations and criticism are linked to an increase in perfectionism among college students, which can have damaging mental health consequences, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association.. Researchers analyzed data from more than 20,000 American, Canadian and British college students
(PDF) Impact of Parental Pressure on Academic Achievement
The topic, impact of parental pressure on academic achievement takes on greater significance in a teeming society, where education is a passage to affluence and the desire to edge out others and ...
Parental Pressure on Students
by Richard Wike and Juliana Menasce Horowitz. Have American parents become too pushy about their kids' education? Many experts seem to think so, judging from several new books by journalists and psychologists that bemoan the growing pressure students feel to do well in school.
(PDF) Exploring Parental Pressure on Academic Performance among
TL;DR: In this article , the authors explored the parental pressure on academic achievement among adolescents and found that a supportive parenting style will improve adolescents' academic achievement, while the authoritarian parenting style often puts high expectations on their children's academic achievement.
Essay on Parental Pressure On Students
Students are often asked to write an essay on Parental Pressure On Students in their schools and colleges. And if you're also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.
The biggest stress for students: parental pressure
As an educator and parent for nearly three decades, I am pleased to read concerns about students being under too much academic pressure. While parents often identify the source of the pressure as ...
Family and Academic Stress and Their Impact on Students' Depression
Introduction. Higher education institutions (HEIs) are believed to be one of the strongest pillars in the growth of any nation ().Being the principal stakeholder, the performance of HEIs mainly relies on the success of its students ().To successfully compete in the prevailing dynamic industrial environment, students are not only supposed to develop their knowledge but are also expected to have ...
PDF Exploring Parental Pressure on Academic Performance among ...
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Academic Pressure: Causes, Effects, and Coping Strategies
Raising children to be successful is a priority for many parents and guardians. This involves regularly planning their future and doing what it takes to get there academically.
Essay about Parental Pressure: Why High School Students Should Stop
Parental pressure is not always easy to deal with, but it can be a positive force in a child's life. It can help them learn how to set and achieve goals, and how to cope with disappointment and setbacks.
My Parents Essay for Students and Children
We entered this world because of our parents. It is our parents who have given us life and we must learn to be pleased with it. I am grateful to my parents for everything they do for me. Through my parents essay, I wish to convey how valuable they are to me and how much I respect and admire them.
Peer Pressure Essay for Students and Children
Peer pressure can be both negative and positive. Because if a person is a peer pressuring you for a good cause then it is motivation. Motivation is essential for the growth of a person. In this Essay on Peer Pressure will discuss the Advantage and Disadvantage of it.
A look at false claims around Harris and her campaign for the White
The announcement that Vice President Kamala Harris will seek the Democratic nomination for president is inspiring a wave of false claims about her eligibility and her background. Some first emerged years ago, while others only surfaced after President Joe Biden's decision to end his bid for a second term.. Here's a look at the facts. ___ CLAIM: Harris is not an American citizen and ...

The Psychological Impact of Parental Pressure on Kids and Teens

The Mental Health Consequences of Parental Pressure

Why Parents Resort to Pressure

Strategies for Healthy Encouragement

The Bottom Line

Common Questions

Why do parents put pressure on their kids?

What are the mental health consequences of excessive parental pressure?

How can I tell if I'm pressuring my child too much?

What are some healthy ways to encourage my child without pressuring them?

Can I still have high expectations for my child without pressuring them?

What if my child is resistant to my encouragement?

Where can I go for help if I'm struggling to break the cycle of parental pressure?

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The Dangers of Putting Too Much Pressure on Kids

What Parental Pressure Looks Like

Parental Pressure in Sports and Other Activities

When Pressure From Parents Is Harmful

Higher rates of mental illness

Higher risk of injuries

Increased likelihood of cheating

Refusing to participate

Self-esteem problems

Sleep deprivation

What to Do Instead of Adding Parental Pressure

Related Articles

The Dangers of Putting Too Much Pressure on Kids

What Parental Pressure Looks Like

Parental Pressure in Sports and Other Activities

When Pressure From Parents Is Harmful

Higher rates of mental illness

Higher risk of injuries

Increased likelihood of cheating

Refusing to participate

Self-esteem problems

Sleep deprivation

What to Do Instead of Adding Parental Pressure

Related Articles

Parental Pressure on Children: Signs and Effects

What Is Parental Pressure?

1. Nightmares

2. Seclusion & Cheating

3. Lethargy & Loss of Interest

4. Late Hours

5. Bad Temper

1. Prone to Mental Disease

2. Self-Harm

3. Low Self-Esteem

4. Defensive Attitude

5. Risk of Permanent Injuries

1. Focus on Effort, Not Just Results

2. Set Realistic and Achievable Goals

3. Provide a Supportive Environment

4. Encourage Decision-Making

5. Celebrate Individual Strengths and Interests

1. How can parental pressure affect the parent-child relationship?

2. How does parental pressure contribute to the development of perfectionism in children?

3. How does parental pressure affect students’ academic performance?

4. How can parents recognise the fine line between healthy encouragement and detrimental pressure in their parenting approach?

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Parental Pressure

Parents’ Influence on a Child Essay: How Parents Affect Behavior and Development

Introduction