Stress, Health and Happiness of Students

Author Name(s): Dr. Nitin Vighne, Ms. Pallavi Waghmare
Author Email: nitinvighne@gmail.com

Abstract

Genuine Learning is always a pleasant experience, but 24 students commit suicide every day because of educational stress. Thus, stress poses as a significant public health problem, especially in India, for many students due to the highly competitive examination system and the school environment producing various other academic, social, and personal challenges therefore impacting their overall perceived happiness. The primary purpose of this research was to find out why students are not happy in current times & how and what should be done to make education process a happy and stress free experience for students and teachers. The study examines whether students’ perceived happiness differed significantly based on stress and emotional closeness to others, like teachers and parents (social support) and to explore the ways to maintain and improve their Happiness Quotient (HQ). For this, the authors have adopted a qualitative approach and collected data through a semi-structured interview design from students, teachers and student counselors. This research revealed that if we are able to eliminate root causes for educational stress on young minds after exploring the psychological requisites for happiness and implement them; then we can expect our students to achieve success in various fields and prevent suicides. Potential methods for combating the challenges of academic stress are then suggested to help shape a healthy, safe and friendly environment for all who live, learn and work in school that support their social and emotional well-being.

Keywords Educational Stress, Happiness, Happiness Quotient, Emotional Support

Introduction

As per the state government record, in the last five years a total of 39,775 students killed themselves. The average comes to one student’s suicide every hour in Maharashtra. Many students live a miserable life far, far away from the state of happiness. In classrooms, teachers become concentrated on covering the syllabus, often ignoring the grasping level of students (Raina, 1983). Partly because school success has such an important role in determining a child’s future, it has come to be a critical measure of self-worth for young Indians; thus students and parents place major importance on the adolescents’ academic work (Varma, 1998). Ultimately, problems like school drop-outs, suicides, crimes, and diseased patients are originated from unhappiness generated from environment, experience, education, unfulfilled needs and various other reasons. Psychiatrists have expressed concern at the emergence of education as a serious source of stress for school-going children, leading to an incidence of suicide deaths (D’Mello, 1997). With reference to the subject of this paper we are focusing on prerequisites for happiness which can be generated through the system of education.

Conclusion

After deeply analyzing various observations generated from interviews & questionnaire from students, teachers, student-counselors the following conclusions are made. To improve the overall happiness quotient of students in education following requisites are to be fulfilled: 1. Teachers must be aware about the student’s environments and problems and try to improve their knowledge, skills and attitude. Teachers must understand the Science of Happiness. Only happy teachers can generate happy students. Balance of nutrients-exercise-rest & positive attitude training can ensure learning happiness. 2. School / College Administration must organize student’s and Parent’s Training Programs by Psychologists during PTA meetings / or in college hours. 3. Organization should make optimum and right use of counselor than giving them other irrelevant duties. In absence of Counselors, organization should form a tie-up with Psychologists to ensure the same.

815 total views, no views today

Download PDF File

About the author: admin