Anxiety and Learning
Anxiety impacts roughly 18% of the population in one form or another. It is particularly troubling for students in higher academics. This study aims to investigate the question: What factors outside of the classroom increase anxiety in academic performance? This paper will provide an overview of anxiety, discuss how college students are affected by it, examine the factors that cause it, and look at how parents and educators can help those who suffer from it.

What is Anxiety?

There are many different types of anxiety, but generally put anxiety refers to nervousness and a feeling of being overwhelmed by stress about something related to one’s life. There is social anxiety, panic disorder, fears and phobias, separation anxiety, and general anxiety disorder, which refers to a chronic case of anxiety that simply will not go away. The characteristics of anxiety include a feeling of apprehension, tension, restlessness, jumpiness, and negative thoughts—i.e., expectations of the worst outcome. Those who suffer from anxiety may feel cut off from others, may experience difficulty communicating what they are going through, may be unable to focus on the tasks at hand, and may have difficulty catching their breath or getting themselves under control during an anxiety attack. They can have headaches, upset stomach, quickened pulse, tremors, insomnia and fatigue. Anxiety can be caused by one’s environment or it may be biological (NAMI).

How Working Causes Anxiety in College Students

College students already have a lot on their plate because they are studying to get good grades. If one throws working a job into that mix, the student can quickly become overwhelmed because there is less time to do what needs to be done for school. As Mounsey et al. indicate in their study, “working students displayed more anxiety than non-working counterparts and reported more stress and fewer buffers” (379). The cause for this anxiety is that the students are trying to balance various concerns and responsibilities, and sometimes they overlap and put pressure on the student who finds himself troubled about how to manage time.

Many students cannot avoid working because they have to pay their way through school and support themselves while students. This means that on top of going to school and setting aside time for studies, they also have to go to a job and set aside time for work. Without an effective support or period of down time, students can buckle under the anxiety that ensues.

The Percentage of College Students with Anxiety

Mistler et al. at the American Psychological Association surveyed 400 US college counseling center directors about anxiety and depression and reported the following statistics in 2013:

· Anxiety is the top presenting issue among college students, with 41.6% of students suffering from it

· On average, 24.5% of clients were taking psychotropic medications. However, 19% of directors report the availability of psychiatric services on their campus is inadequate.

· Directors report that 21% of counseling center students present with severe mental health concerns, while another 40% present with mild mental health concerns.

Clearly from these figures, anxiety is a major issue among college students and this report shows that something needs to be done to address it.

What Causes Anxiety?

It is unknown what specific factors lead to anxiety among college students—i.e., whether anxiety is caused by the work load in college, stress or whether the weight of the work load and the effect of...…social media users are trying to be this perfect presentation of themselves that can be tiring and stressful because no one is perfect—and this can negatively impact their academic careers.

How Parents and Educators Can Help

Parents and educators can help first and foremost by being aware of the pressures that college students face and providing emotional and social support for them so that they can prevent the onset of anxiety. Students are still developing into adults so they need buffers and a support network that can allow them a moment to unwind, unpack, and clear the head. Educators can overcome the parent-teacher barrier by socializing with students and indicating that if the students need anything they can always turn to their teacher for assistance. Parents can help by always keeping in contact with their children who are in college and making sure that they feel loved and supported no matter what. Sometimes students will feel overwhelmed and burned out and that they are all alone in the world. It can be very difficult for students who are suffering from these negative feelings. A call from a parent can help to take away these feelings and give the student the support and strength to keep going strong.

Conclusion

Anxiety affects the lives of many students. It is the number one issue that students present with when seeking help from mental health care providers. They lack the basic skills and experience with how to balance their many responsibilities once they reach college and are responsible for managing their lives for the first time. Parents and teachers can help to support students as they adjust and grow, and cognitive behavioral therapy can be a great way for students…