South Korea: stress level in school life 2022 | Statista (2024)

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South Korea: stress level in school life 2022 | Statista? ›

According to a survey conducted in South Korea in 2022, about 35.6 percent of the surveyed students answered that they felt stress in their school life during the past two weeks. The stress level of college students or above was higher than that of elementary, middle, and high school students.

Xu and Lee also found that 9 to 14 percent of students who responded to a government survey suffered from general anxiety disorder, while 19 to 30 percent had depression. That is far above the rate of depression among adults, which is closer to 2 percent.

In South Korea, the constant pace of modern life and societal expectations contribute to elevated stress levels. The competitive education system, work culture, and social pressures create a challenging environment for many Koreans. According to a survey, approximately 36 percent of students reported.

This feeling can be overwhelming and hard to work through. School stress is normal and experienced by many students. According to a study by NYU, 49% of students experience stress caused by school on a daily basis.

The standard government-issued school curriculum is often noted as rigorous, with as many as 16 or so subjects. Most students choose to also attend hakwon to boost their academic performance. Core subjects include Korean, English and mathematics, with adequate emphasis on social and physical science subjects.

Students spend much of their time, often between 12 to 16 hours per day, at school or at a special after-school academy called a hagwon. The school system is very test-focused and goal-oriented, urging students to concentrate on their results.

A typical day finds high schoolers studying before school begins at about 8:00 A.M. Classes run for 50 minutes each, with a morning break and a 50-minute lunch period. The afternoon session resumes at about 1:00 P.M., and classes continue until about 4:00 or 4:30, followed by the cleaning of the classroom.

In South Korea, school is even more serious than it is in the US. The structure of Korean life revolves around studying hard and doing well, which in some ways is harmful when it comes to students planning for a future outside of academics.

With Confucian values on the wane, Koreans use a variety of ways — short of prescribed medications — to wick off the stresses of the hectic pace of urban life. Consulting shamans, outdoor exercise like golf and hiking, alcohol, organized religion, the Internet and travel are common outlets now.

How many students skip school because of stress? ›

Sixteen percent of students who were absent for at least a day in the past year and missed school for reasons other than physical illness said they didn't attend because of anxiety, and 12 percent said they felt too sad or depressed to attend.

A Lack of Confidence in One's Academic Abilities

One of the biggest challenges students experience is a lack of confidence in their academic skills. For instance, some children develop math trauma after a negative experience in class, causing them to feel self-doubt and stress when completing math homework.

When it came to stress, more than 70 percent of students said they were “often or always stressed over schoolwork,” with 56 percent listing homework as a primary stressor.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea in 2022, about 35.6 percent of the surveyed students answered that they felt stress in their school life during the past two weeks. The stress level of college students or above was higher than that of elementary, middle, and high school students.

Academic Calendar and Language of Instruction

Korean children attend classes 5.5 days a week and spend about 220 days a year in school versus 175 to 180 days in the United States.

According to the famous PISA study, South Korea has a good education system. For example, it ranks 3rd in mathematics, while Germany is only in 22nd place. South Korea is also in the top group in all other subjects. However, taking a closer look at the Suneung and the Korean education system reveals many problems.

Educational disadvantage, including lack of access to quality education and a positive learning environment, contributes to social inequality and limits students' opportunities to benefit from education and develop skills .