Why Elementary Schoolers?
There is a growing body of evidence that shows stress is becoming more common in elementary schoolers and not much is being done about it (Valizadeh et al., 2012)
Student Stress is on the Rise
Studies on stress symptoms in school kids during the the first decade of the 2000's showed that psychological and physical complaints were on an upward trend (Valizadeh, et al., 2012). Currently and locally the 2022 Minnesota Principals survey listed stress related to academics, stress related to money, housing, or food insecurity, and stress related to peer relationships as being in the top ten causes of student mental health issues currently (Kemper et al., 2024).
Elementary Schoolers Learn Fast!
Having healthy coping mechanisms that they can learn and start using now at an early age will help them in the future and in the present. Healthy habits start forming at young ages so teaching kids early on about stress management and healthy coping mechanisms can lower the amount of stress they experience during their education and contribute to quality stress management skills in their adult life (Sofianopoulou, et al., 2021)
Causes of Stress for Elementary Schoolers
Research shows that the main source of stress for children is a culmination effect of daily hassles caused by academic pressures, social interactions, and family life (Soufianopoulou et al., 2021).