- EXAM STRESS DISRUPTS CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT
TEOG 2. With little time left before the TEOG Term Exams, both students and their families Excitement and stress engulfed me. Although some stress increases a person's fighting power, the stress is chronic and unbearable; It invites many diseases such as exam failure and depression. Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Emine Zinnur Kılıç gave information about the effects of exam stress, ways to cope, and how families' concerns reflect on their children.
- Coping with Chronic Stress is Difficult in Adolescent Ages
Today's living conditions have become so difficult that teenagers now have to focus on the exam and worry about the future instead of falling in love when spring comes. With the introduction of exams every year in the second stage of primary education, this concern spread over a long period of three or even four years. While trying to cope with the physical and social changes brought about by adolescence, starting to prepare for exams at an early age, which they think will affect their whole life, and spending all their out-of-school time in private teaching institutions, adolescents face a long-lasting stressful period at an early age. Although some stress is necessary for success, it is harmful if the stress level is beyond what a person can handle. The ability to cope with stress is also a feature that increases with age, and chronic stress that begins at the beginning of adolescence and lasts for a long period of time, such as three years, sometimes has detrimental effects on development.
- If Stress is at a Controllable Level, It Brings Success
Stress is not always a negative situation. Since life requires constant intervention, it is also necessary for a person to be able to tolerate some stress. When a person encounters a stressful situation, the tension he feels stimulates his sympathetic nervous system, causing a series of emotions and behaviors that we call stress reactions. These reactions occur in short-term stresses; In addition to physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, rapid breathing and stomach contraction; These are thoughts, evaluations, fears and anxieties about the situation that needs to be fought. Fear in some cases p we retreat, plan how we will combat certain situations, and take action. If we cannot do both and are faced with a stressful situation for a long time, our body adapts to the stress.
Long-term tension, sleep disorders, and anxiety occur. As stress continues for a longer period of time, a phase of exhaustion occurs and conditions such as physical diseases, chronic fatigue, and decreased body resistance may occur. If we consider it within this framework, it can be said that exam stress has two dimensions. The short-term excitement, fear of failure and accompanying physical symptoms experienced just before and during the exam also cover the preparation process for the exam; Long-term anxiety, tension and anxiety are generally called "exam stress". If it is at a controllable level, stress is necessary for success and increases a person's ability to fight.
- Do not give in to your excitement during the exam
The excitement and anxiety felt right before the exam are generally harmless if they are short-lived. In fact, the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which we can call the alarm system in the body, can even positively affect exam success as it increases the sharpness of attention. In this case, all the person has to do is; It focuses on the exam questions rather than focusing on the symptoms of excitement in the body. When you can do this, the excitement goes away on its own. If the person cannot do this, becomes afraid of failure, or becomes extremely uncomfortable with the symptoms occurring in his body and directs his attention to his own body; stress increases and attention is distracted.
- Families should instill in their children that it will not be the end of their lives if the exam is not passed
Chronic stress occurs more in high school or It occurs in children and families who perceive the university exam as a matter of life and death. The idea that there will be no hope for the future if they fail the exam is frightening, especially for primary school children. These children are depressed by the thought that if they cannot get into a good high school for years, they will not have a chance at university. Young children do not have alternative thinking skills and cannot evaluate themselves correctly. They are more open to influences from the environment. Please your parents Being successful is more important to them than anything else. They may think that if they fail the exam, they will lose their love. That's why prolonged stressful times, especially in primary school age, can lead to sleep and eating disorders in children; It causes physical diseases such as heart and stomach problems and mental diseases such as depression to be more common. While young people are preparing for exams, their exam-related goals should not be beyond their ability to cope. Families should not instill in their children the idea that if they do not pass the exam, they will have no hope for the future. Our children are too valuable to be measured by exam grades.
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