Effects of stress on academic and athletic performance
Although there are many advantages to being a High School or College student, this period of a young person’s life certainly doesn’t come without its challenges. Naturally, there is a huge pressure to succeed in their studies and this comes from within the student as well as from parents and teachers. There is the challenge to fit into a new social network, living away from home, and money, but for those involved in athletics, that pressure is added to considerably. Therefore, being aware of stress and its source allows you the opportunity to deal with the issues and ensure that you reach the maximum performance in terms of studies and sport. This ensures peace of mind for parents and coaches while allowing students to reach their potential.
The importance of this is highlighted by Dr. Ed Ehlinger, Director of Boynton Health Services who states:
College students are so important for our economic development—the development of our society. One way to protect that investment in our future is to help them stay healthy.
Causes of student stress
According to Ross, Neibling and Heckert (1999) there are several explanations for increased stress levels in college students.
First, students have to make significant adjustments to college life. Second, because of the pressure of studies, there is strain placed on interpersonal relationships. Third, housing arrangements and changes in lifestyle contribute to stress experienced by college students. In addition, students in college experience stress related to academic requirements, support systems, and ineffective coping skills.
While a certain amount of stress can be effective in helping us respond to challenges, Sian Beilock, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Chicago, points out that too much stress can have a negative impact on a student, but adds that there are ways to deal with the pressure in order to reach your potential.
High-stakes learning and performance situations can put a counterproductive stress on students. However, there is a growing body of research showing that fairly simple interventions can lower students’ anxiety about tests and boost what they learn in the classroom. These interventions don’t teach academic content, they target students’ attitudes
Mental and physical consequences
The effects of stress have been highlighted in a number of studies, including one carried out by Minnesota’s Boynton Health Service which surveyed 9,931 students at 14 different two-year and four-year schools. It concluded that stress was one of the biggest factors in students scoring significantly lower than average in their tests. Of the 69.9 percent of students who reported they were stressed, 32.9 percent said that stress was hurting their academic performance.
Meanwhile, a study in the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology found that stress had a significant impact on physical performance.
Runners were intentionally stressed by being forced to complete a difficult computer test immediately before a 1.86-mile race (3,000-meters). The race times for runners who had taken the test were about 15 seconds slower than for the runners who hadn’t taken it.
The reason why performance in the classroom and on the sports field is affected by stress is outlined by by Dr. Mercola who reminds us that mental and physical fatigue are closely connected as he identifies the following effects of stress.
- Stress Impairs Working Memory
- Stress Sabotages Concentration
- Stress Impairs Motor Coordination
- Stress Compromises Visual Acuity
- Stress Hampers Your Fitness Gains
- Stress Slows Exercise Recovery
- Stress Raises Your Risk for Injury
- Stress Seriously Impedes Weight Loss
- Stress Kills Motivation
- Stress Depletes Emotional Resources
Deal with symptoms
With such strong evidence available as to how stress levels can affect both athletic and academic performance, knowing the causes can be invaluable to the student, coach, teachers and parents. As a consequence, the monitoring system available from Metrifit could be crucial in a student reaching their potential both in the classroom and on the sportsfield, not to mention ensuring their mental well-being is looked after.
College athletes are not immune to stress, anxiety and depression and often face more barriers when seeking help as they are from a ‘culture of silence’ where they do not always address how they feel and often repress their feelings. The importance of understanding and supporting student-athlete mental wellness is coming to the fore-front in education.
Erik Helland, Director of Strength & Conditioning at the University of Wisconsin has this to say about his use of Metrifit with the men’s basketball team.
Metrifit has a very strong educational component. With the information we get, I am able to clearly understand the habits and behaviors of our athletes, and how they may be impacting performance. We talk about the importance of good “habits” continuously, and this is a way to demonstrate the correlation of good habits, to good performance outcomes.
What is Metrifit?
Metrifit helps coaches get to know their athletes, and helps athletes get ready to perform. It is a simple, intuitive and effective approach to monitoring looking at how the ‘small picture’ of an athlete’s daily habits, shapes the ‘big picture’ of match day performance.
Why not have a look at our Metrifit Ready to Perform product and gain insight on the physical and mental state of your athletes through our daily well-being questionnaire? To find out more visit our Metrifit Product Overview page or contact at for a free demo.
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References
Study shows direct link between health-related behaviors and grades by Sam Savage
The Impact of Stress on Academic Success in College Students
How Stress Can Affect Athletic Performance: Listen Up, Tiger by Roger Covin, Ph.D
10 Ways Stress Can Mess with Your Workouts
Stress in elite sports by Andrew Wood