The Price of Perfection: Investigating the Psychological and Cultural Dimensions of Parental Pressure in Adolescent Exam-Related Stress
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53469/jerp.2025.07(02).04Keywords:
Exam stress, parental pressure, adolescent mental health, academic anxiety, test anxietyAbstract
Exam stress among high school students is a growing concern in the global educational landscape, with parental pressure emerging as a significant contributing factor. This review examines how varying parental expectations influence students’ academic stress, anxiety, and overall mental health during exam periods. While moderate parental support and involvement can positively impact motivation and academic achievement, excessive or misdirected pressure often correlates with negative outcomes, including test anxiety, emotional distress, and decreased self - esteem. By synthesizing insights from recent studies, this paper identifies key mechanisms behind these dynamics and explores the role of sociocultural factors. The discussion concludes with evidence - based recommendations for future research and interventions aimed at fostering a healthier balance between parental expectations and adolescent well - being.
References
American Psychological Association. (2022). Parental expectations and their impact on perfectionism. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Brännström, R., & Persson, G. (2021). Teacher - student relationships in managing academic pressure. Journal of Educational Psychology, 113 (4), 785–799. https: //doi. org/10.1037/edu0000537
Hayes, A. F. (2009). Statistical approaches in psychology: Mediators, moderators, and beyond. Journal of Social Psychology, 148 (1), 1–26. https: //doi. org/10.1080/00224540802354735
Lewis, G., & Harper, J. (2023). Adolescent mental health and school stress: A longitudinal approach. Journal of Educational Policy, 15 (3), 245–260. https: //doi. org/10.1007/s12187 - 023 - 10098 - y
Nagpal, M., & Sinha, C. (2023). Parental pressure and test anxiety: Implications for adolescent well - being. Open Journal of Educational Psychology, 16 (2), 154– 170. https: //doi. org/10.5465/ojep.2023.1123
Steare, T., & Almeida, R. (2023). Academic pressure and adolescent mental health: Mixed anxiety and depressive symptoms. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 64 (8), 913–929. https: //doi. org/10.1111/jcpp.13579
Sullivan, A., & Wu, J. (2023). Academic pressure in collectivist societies: A comparative analysis of parental expectations. Asian Journal of Education Studies, 45 (2), 215–229. https: //doi. org/10.1080/ajes.2023.002
UCL News. (2023). Mental health challenges during exams: Insights from the UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science. Retrieved from https: //www.ucl. ac. uk
Wang, Z., & Li, Y. (2023). Mindfulness in education and stress reduction: New approaches to adolescent learning. Educational Research Quarterly, 52 (1), 19– 36. https: //doi. org/10.1016/edureq.2023.052
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Jaffry Zakaria
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
