The Impact of Chronic Stress on the Mental Health of 9th and 1st Year Students and Its Implications for the Development of Anxiety and Depression Disorders

Abstract

Introduction: The rising number of individuals diagnosed with chronic stress has become increasingly common, raising concern concerns in our society. This condition is closely linked to neurological disorders and often triggers various other psychosocial issues, particularly among school-aged children and adolescents.Chronic stress has become an increasing concern among adolescents, being linked to neurological disorders, mental illnesses, and risky behaviours. Evidence shows that factors such as bullying, poverty, domestic violence, and discrimination significantly contribute to the development of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder in young people. The lack of early interventions and effective public policies worsens this scenario, especially in vulnerable socioeconomic contexts. Therefore, there is an urgent need for new research focused on evaluating the effectiveness of the previously proposed strategies and eliminating less effective approaches to resolve this social dilemma. Objective: This study aimed to analyse the impact of chronic stress on the mental health of 9th and 1st-year students at the Centro Integrado de Educação Assis Chateaubriand, located in Feira de Santana, and its implications in the development of anxiety and depression disorders, in addition to proposing evidence-based interventions. Methodology: This is a bibliographic, descriptive study with a mixed approach, based on scientific articles published between 2020 and 2025. Using multistage cluster sampling, 862 adolescents (65% girls, average age 15) from public and private schools in São Gonçalo were selected. The search was conducted in the PubMed and BVS databases, using DeCS descriptors combined with Boolean operators. After a careful selection, three thematic axes were defined to guide the critical analysis of the data and support the discussion. Results and Discussion: The analysed literature identified direct associations between chronic stress and the worsening of mental symptoms such as suicidal ideation, self-harm, depression, and anxiety. Factors such as excessive screen time, school violence, family neglect, and toxic school environments were determinants. Bullying, especially verbal and sexual, showed a high correlation with PTSD. The COVID-19 pandemic also intensified levels of psychological distress, especially among the poorest. Conclusion: Chronic stress severely affects adolescents' psychological development. The implementation of policies such as Law 14.819/2024, which proposes psychosocial actions in schools, and the use of approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy are promising strategies. In short, understanding what chronic stress is, how it affects students, and developing effective prevention strategies are essential steps toward creating a healthier, more supportive educational environment. It is concluded that investing in prevention, support, and mental health in the school environment is urgent in order to promote well-being and healthy development for students.