Aalborg University study links school children's exhaustion to academic pressure

A new study from Aalborg University, published in the journal Social Science & Medicine, indicates that exhaustion is a significant and often overlooked factor in the wellbeing of school children.

Postdoc Camilla Brændstrup Laursen conducted a 60-day study observing and interviewing students in the 2nd, 4th, and 7th grades at a Danish school. The research found that children frequently reported a lack of energy and feelings of exhaustion that went beyond simple sleep deprivation.

According to the findings, students attributed this fatigue to long school days, high demands, and a constant pressure to perform. The study also noted that adult-led physical activities intended to help restless or tired students may not always be perceived as a true break by the children, as they can still feel like part of the school's requirements.