Brazilian teens face exam anxiety and screen‑related attention problems

A 2024 IBGE survey found that 49.7% of Brazilian adolescents aged 13‑17 report frequent worry about daily life, a pressure that intensifies during university entrance (vestibular) exams. Experts advise students to organize a regular study routine, simulate test conditions, manage exam time wisely, focus on the learning process rather than scores, maintain a balanced schedule, and keep healthy habits such as physical activity and adequate rest.

Separate research highlights that excessive screen time can mimic symptoms of Attention‑Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Neuroscientist Fabiano de Abreu Agrela Rodrigues explains that constant exposure to short videos and rapid digital rewards overstimulates dopamine pathways, fragments attention, and impairs metacognition. This “digital hyperstimulation” blurs the line between true neuropsychiatric disorders and fatigue from over‑use of devices, reducing reflective thinking and the beneficial state of “healthy boredom.” He recommends reducing screen time, encouraging analog activities, reading, sports, and face‑to‑face interaction to protect neurocognitive development.