Stress can be contagious: Study

However, a recent study published in the journal, ‘Teaching and Teacher Education’, found that the chances of the feeling of stress among students or colleagues percolating to another, are quite high.

The study also found that stress among teachers tends to percolate to younger teachers or those new to the school environment. “If you are surrounded by people who are downcast or walking around under a pall of burnout, then there is a high chance of spilling over, even if you do not have direct contact with these folks,” said one of the researchers. 

The study is one of the first to provide evidence that the organisational culture in schools can make a distinct difference for students and early-career teachers’ stress levels. 

“The school is an environment and when a new student comes into it, he will be affected by whatever is in the environment. The classroom is a kind of  captive audience, in which, if one person is noisy or stressed or anxious, it will have an impact on other students as well, more so among new comers,” said Dr Lakshmi Vijayakumar, a reputed psychiatrist and Founder, SNEHA, a suicide prevention centre. 

“It is a period in a child’s life when he is growing up. He will have to deal with his own individual difficulties of growing up, which include physical, sexual and mental growths. Most of the youngsters brought to me are school students undergoing stress and in need of help,” added Dr Vijayakumar. 

Teachers too, who have newly stepped into a particular school environment, will be impacted by the behaviour of his or her colleagues, the study found. “Teachers with around four years of experience or less, will get affected by a negative environment much more than a teacher with more experience. It is therefore essential to ensure the availability of mental care at all times. A counsellor in all schools is therefore mandatory,” said counsellor P Nilam.  “It is essential to understand that people respond to stress differently. Stress is simply what we feel as the result of how the human body reacts to certain internal or external demands. Each student will respond differently, even if the demands they face are identical,” she added. 

With stress being brushed aside as a minor problem, cases of them leading to depression have also been seen. “Faculty and students should also be careful not to dismiss situations where some level of stress is expected. It is easy for an individual’s symptoms to be missed or ignored. It is therefore essential to be alert and provide necessary care,” said Christina, a counsellor at a school. 

Recalling a case, counsellor Nilam said, “Suresh, (name changed) was 14- years when he was brought to me by his parents last year. He had recently joined a school, but was not liking it. On talking to him over a few sessions, I came to learn that his bench mate was a very negative individual, who would wish the ill of others. Suresh still comes to meet me sometimes, and has shown considerable improvement. If the school in particular had a counsellor, it would have helped many like Suresh and his bench mate.”

Stress in not a minor issue, but one that needs to be addressed.

The study found that if students and teachers of a school appear to be stressed, the chances of the same feeling percolating to a new colleague are quite high.

Students undergo stress owing to academic disputes and performance, expectations from parents, and peer pressure.

They also struggle due to various changes they see within.

Teachers with around four years of experience or less, will get affected by a negative environment much more than a teacher with more experience