The Effects of Different External Academic Pressures on the Mental Health of High School Students in the United States

By: Carys Doyle, Penncrest High School

For my study, I examined the effects of external academic pressures on the mental health of high school students in the United States. I analyzed three common pressure groups: teachers, parents, and peers. To do this, I released a questionnaire to students at a 9-12 United States high school and then analyzed the correlations between their levels of perceived pressure and their mental health status. At the conclusion of my study, although not statistically significant, I found that as external academic pressure increases, the mental health of high school students decreases.