Exam stress fuels anxiety crisis among UK teenagers
Reliability
Based on 13 sources
Publications (10)
Sources (13)Fact-Checking
69 claimsA 2025 survey by BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Bitesize polled 2,000 kids aged 13-18.
69% of all participants reported feeling anxious at least some of the time.
Pressure around exams and grades is the biggest worry for teens.
Open Questions
5 questionsAnxiety levels among 13-14-year-olds dropped during lockdown, and pupils less connected to school saw larger decreases, suggesting school may negatively impact mental health.
According to www.bbc.comExam stress is a major factor contributing to record numbers of young people seeking mental health support, and exams are the top source of anxiety for teens.
According to www.huffingtonpost.co.uk, www.bbc.co.ukContext: This contradiction leaves unclear whether school attendance overall increases or decreases anxiety; the lockdown study suggests school may be a stressor, while other data highlight exam pressure within school as the key issue.
Social media is arguably one of the biggest contributors to the decline in young people's mental health in 2025.
According to www.red-umbrella.co.ukExams were more than twice as likely to have a significant negative impact on mental health than social media.
According to www.huffingtonpost.co.ukContext: The disagreement over whether social media or exams are the bigger driver of mental health decline affects where resources and interventions should be targeted.