Trimbos: Students have endless sources of stress, but don’t talk about it
What is the source of the stress and pressure to perform that students experience? It comes from every nook and cranny, according to a new study by the Trimbos Institute. And excessive media attention doesn’t help, either.
Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger? is the new report from the Trimbos Institute, referring to a Daft Punk song about the pressure to perform. The researchers are trying to find out where students’ problems come from and what can be done about them.
Nearly half of all students suffer from psychological problems, Trimbos reported at the end of last year. There was criticism of the research, as there were claims that too few students completed the survey. But something is definitely going on. The CBS statistics office also saw an increase in problems.
Overwhelmed
Why is that? Conversations with students and experts should shed some light on this. The main conclusion is that students are faced with an accumulation of uncertainties. They feel “overwhelmed by high demands, expectations, and responsibilities.” To students, it sometimes looks like an obstacle course.
They worry about the world because of the climate crisis, war, and polarization, but also have personal concerns about high energy bills and expensive (or impossible to find) housing. On top of this, for example, is the binding study advice, or being selected for that one master’s program.
Media
According to the experts the Trimbos Institute spoke to, media reports are not always helpful, either. They believe that so much attention is paid to stress, the pressure to perform, and mental health issues among students “that they sometimes also get the feeling that things are not going well for them.” Acknowledgment of the problems is good, but it is advisable to watch your words: Study advisors, student counselors, coaches, and other experts consulted recommend not to exacerbate the problems.
Students can relate to that. The abundant reporting on performance pressure, stress, and the mental health of young people does not help in dealing with performance pressure and stress. The researchers recommend having a media code, comparable to the code for suicide prevention (media always refer to help on 113.nl in messages about suicide).
Tip
Because so many factors influence the mental well-being of students, the Trimbos Institute has come up with a myriad of possible solutions to which students themselves, education, and society can contribute.
For example, students can talk to others, eat healthily, and get enough sleep. They should also not worry too much about the stigma attached to mental health problems. It can also help to form your own study groups.
Tips for education include personal attention for students, a “soft landing” for first-year students, and “role models” who can share their experiences with students. Good information is of course also crucial.
Society
And society? Perhaps campaigns for healthy eating and sufficient exercise are an idea. But the financial insecurity of students also requires attention. The researchers advise limiting high rents and compensating the generation that has had to deal with the loan system. “Associate fewer financial consequences to continuing or stopping your studies,” is another piece of advice.
The Trimbos Institute does not yet have all the answers, the researchers admit. They recommend follow-up research, such as into assessing where the tipping point occurs from uncertainty (which everyone sometimes feels) to unhealthy pressure to perform and stress.
