Teen Stress Now Linked to Adult Depression

High academic pressure during adolescence may have lasting negative effects on mental health, a new study suggests. Research published on February 12, 2026, in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health tracked young people and found that intense academic stress at age 15 correlates with increased depressive symptoms throughout their early adulthood.

Teens feeling overwhelmed by schoolwork at age 15 continued to report higher depressive symptoms until at least age 22, with the strongest link observed at age 16. Furthermore, for every one-point increase on a nine-point scale of academic pressure at age 15, there was an 8% rise in the odds of self-harm, a risk that persisted until age 24.

Additional analysis indicated that significant stress from as early as ages 11 and 14 was also associated with future depression. The researchers advocate for "whole-school" interventions to modify the educational culture, suggesting a focus on reducing exams and enhancing social-emotional skills rather than solely supporting individual coping mechanisms.

The study, which observed participants aged 15 between 2006 and 2007, highlights academic pressure as a potentially modifiable risk factor for depression and self-harm. The authors caution that the findings are observational and cannot definitively prove causation.