Students are anxious – and it’s no surprise, since we are teaching them to be that way

Whether students feel pressure to get good grades or keep up with classmates, the anxiety this effort produces can have long-term effects on their brains.

By: Erin Clabough, University of Virginia, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: July 31, 2026

Words: 1,357

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 5 days ago

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By Erin Clabough, University of Virginia

Temporary anxiety can often surface before the first day of school. Sometimes, that can help kids get in the right mindset for a big day. But when anxiety becomes a constant feature of children’s and teenagers’ days, that stress doesn’t switch off when they leave the classroom or finish an exam. It can become the body’s normal, staying with learners long after graduation.

I teach biology and neuroscience …

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