Students Stressors

Positive teacher-student relationships can offset some of the normal stressors that students experience as they grow and develop. For example, the transition to middle school is often viewed as stressful time for children; middle school students often show declines in motivation, self esteem and academic performance (feldlaufer et al; 1988). How ever, students who perceive greater support  from their teachers experience less depression and have more growth in self-esteem between the sixth and the eight grades (Reddy, Rhodes, & Mulhall, 2003). Also, students who perceive their teachers as respectful, eager to support their autonomy, focused on setting realistic and individualized expectations for performance, and offering nurturing and constructive feedback are more motivated in school (Wentzel, 1998). More specifically, if a student believes "my teacher trusts me" or my teacher calls on me to give answer"  he or she more likely to be interested in class, more likely to conform to the positive social norms of the classroom and more eager to master the academic materials being taught  (Wentzel, 1998; 2002).

Stress basics

What is stress?

Stress is the body’s reaction to physical, chemical, emotional, or environmental factors. These can range from extreme, life-threatening situations to the simple and everyday challenges of life.
Stress is a force constantly affecting all human beings. It is part of everyday life and is unavoidable, but we can choose how we respond to stress. “How we perceive a stress-provoking event and how we react to it determines its impact on our health”¹.