Stress in Adolescents

Stress is commonly known as the fight-or-flight response. Acute stress is the reaction to an immediate threat.

Adolescence is, by definition, an "in-between" stage. The adolescent years are among the most stressful times in a person's life. They have more responsibility and freedom than they did as children, but less than they will as adults.

Among the many reasons why an adolescent feels stress are:

• family issues or problems with parents
• school-related problems or pressures
• death of a loved one
• move to a new home
• injuries or severe illness
• child abuse, or sexual abuse
• family or community violence


Reactions to stress vary with the adolescent's ability to cope, how long the stress continues, and the intensity of the stress. Some adolescents withdraw from others, some lash out at others, and some actively seek the comfort of others.

Signs of stress in an adolescent may include:

• withdrawal
• antisocial behavior, such as stealing, aggression, and acting out
• rebellion in the home, such as refusal to do chores
• physical complaints, such as headache and stomach ache
• missed school or poor school performance
• changes in eating and sleeping habits
• loss of interest in activities that were previously enjoyed
• difficulty concentrating
• lying
• thoughts of death or suicide