Factors that can contribute to stress during adolescence include exposure to adversity, pressure to conform with peers and exploration of identity. Media influence and gender norms can exacerbate the disparity between an adolescent’s lived reality and their perceptions or aspirations for the future.

For teens, the most commonly reported sources of stress are school (83%), getting into a good college or deciding what to do after high school (69%), and financial concerns for their family (65%). Many teens reported lying awake at night (35%), overeating or eating unhealthy foods (26%), and skipping meals (23%) due to stress in the past month.

Teenagers face a lengthy list of stressors that includes: School stressors Pressure to do well in school Living in a culture that fosters unhealthy competition vs. collaboration After-school and extracurricular activities Demands for community service Public health and safety concerns (such as school shootings)