[매경학생기자]Korean Youth Stress Levels at All-Time High

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[매경학생기자]Korean Youth Stress Levels at All-Time High

Even though the current stress levels of Korean teenagers are among the highest in the world, effective physical activity opportunities to relieve stress are significantly underdeveloped in Korea compared to other countries.

According to the 2022 UNICEF announcement, the academic stress index of Korean youth was 50.5%, the highest in the world. On the other hand, the academic stress index of the United States was approximately 40.6%, and the difference between the two countries was approximately 10%, and it was reported that high expectations for academic achievement were the main causes of stress in both countries. Stress causes physical health problems such as weakened immunity, cardiovascular disease, and digestive problems, as well as mental health problems such as depression, anxiety disorder, and burnout. It is also known that academic stress during youth has a negative impact on student’s adaptation to school life.

In particular, Korean teenagers experience serious academic stress due to the pressure of the entrance exam-oriented education system and achievement-oriented society. It was found that the majority of Korean high school students mainly manage stress through indoor activities such as watching videos, using social media, and playing games. However, most Korean teenagers currently rely on non-physical activities to relieve their stress, and do not fully enjoy the full extent of stress relief that physical methods provide. Experts point out that more diverse health management guidance from school authorities is much needed.

On the other hand, stress relief through exercise is common outside of Korea, which are implemented by integrating exercise into educational programs. In the United States, physical education classes are mandatory, encouraging students to regularly participate in physical activities. The American curriculum focuses on developing basic motor skills (FMS) and movement concepts starting from elementary school, which helps teenagers develop healthy mental health through regular exercise.

Strength training is reported to not only promote physical health but also contribute to lowering the level of perceived stress. However, it is pointed out that the importance of physical education is still underestimated in Korean education and that it is not having any significant effects.

The most recently revised 2022 Korean physical education curriculum aims to foster physical activity capabilities, pursue holistic education, and emphasize the essence of physical activity. However, research has raised the issue that physical education classes are often perceived as simple ‘playtime’ or are operated formally, which limits their educational effectiveness. In particular, the performance assessment of high school physical education classes lacks consistency in terms of the validity, reliability, and objectivity of the assessment, suggesting that systematic education is not being carried out.

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