John Adams Middle School

Edison, New Jersey

Mr.Levy

Stress In Student Life

Group Member 1: Savir Doodam

Group Member 2: Suneeth Penumala
Group Member 3: Shrey Patel
 Describe Topic
● Why is this topic important to your group?
○ This topic is important to our group because the mental health of
students is very important to our learning capabilities. Mental
wellness is a topic that needs to be addressed more, and some
students are worried about speaking up about how they are feeling.

● Why should people care about your topic?

○ People should care about our topic because we all are either students
or have once been students that have experienced great amounts of
stress. People can also feel overwhelmed to the point where they can
feel scared to talk. Social media can deteriorate the mental health of
students and cause more stress.

● What actions would you like to see happen to improve or solve your topic?
○ Extend project deadlines. Daily check-ins to prevent procrastination.
1.
The Problem
 The Problem
How is the problem is affecting you or your community?

- Depression
- Kids getting overworked
- Anxiey increase
- Silence from kids
▸ What potential solutions are there for improvement?

- A “no homework day” every wednesday

- No projects over crucial breaks
- Creating schedules for students.
▸ Are there any organizations or groups that are already doing work
towards your topic? Identify them below:
- The Jed foundation
 The Questions
▸ Why is your problem happening?

▹ Procrastination

▹ Teachers overloading students with work

▸ How is it affecting people?

▹ People are getting very stressed and depressed.

▹ Projects and class assignments clash with student free time.

▸ What solutions have been tried?

▸ Mindfulness ( meditation)
 The Questions
▸ Why have those solutions not fixed the problem?
While these solutions have been told to work, teens would not have enough time to do
the practices as they would be overloaded by work,

▸ Does a successful solution exist somewhere?

A successful solution does exist in schools with 3 day weekends.

▸ Can we use that solution here?

Using that solution here would cause a lot of complications in our current school
system. It would arise the need to rework the entire platform of which our school
operates on.

▸ What solutions can we try to implement here to fix the problem? In order to

lessen pressure and stress on students, we could do some of the following: Shorter
assignments for hw, and longer assignments for classwork. We can also make it a rule
that assignments shouldn’t stretch over weekends and breaks.
 Gathering Sources
Directions: Watch the video below to learn how to evaluate the reliability of
a source before collecting your own online sources for your topic!
 Gathering Sources
Directions: Begin gathering sources to use for your research. Identify the
name of the website, attach the link, and describe what information you
will use from each source in the chart below.

Website Link How you will use source:

National library of https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih. Statistics

medicine. gov/articles/PMC924341
5/

Sutter Health https://www.sutterhealth.

org/health/academic-pre
ssure

American Psychological https://www.apa.org/ed/s

association chools/primer/stress

Biomedical and https://biomedpharmajou

pharmacology journal. rnal.org/vol11no1/acade
mic-stress-and-its-sourc
es-among-university-stu
Create a CLAIM
Create a CLAIM that provides a potential solution that address your YPAR topic.
A report by the American Institute of Stress indicates that 75% of high school students and 50% of
middle school students consistently feel stressed due to schoolwork. Academic stress is a huge
burden on students that can be resolved with a few changes to the school system. Such as .adding
a club to check in on students, help them move forward in academics, and help improve their
mental health. Some ways we are going to do this is by hosting fun events and having our own zen
den. We will be sponsored by the school and supervised by a teacher. Being sponsored by Jams will
give us a facility to run in.
Your claim must highlight the PROBLEM you would like to solve and identify the STAKEHOLDERS
involved.

*Stakeholders are people that your topic directly impacts

For our YPAR Project on academic stress, our group would like to solve Time management
and Social media scrolling problems because it helps

○ Students manage their time and get work done

○ Students retain their mental health and don't get exposed to the dangers of social
media
○ Students don't feel pressured by the workload given to them and can enjoy
themselves
 Mastery Check #1

You must meet with the teacher to

receive feedback before moving
on to the next section
2.
Creating your
Research Questions
Creating Your Research Questions

Your group will create questions that will help

guide your YPAR Project.

Things to keep in mind:

▸ The research question should be clear and focused

▸ The answer should require more than a simple yes

or no response

▸ The question should allow you to produce an

analysis of an issue or problem rather than a
simple description of it
Examples of Good and Bad Research Questions

Vague Research Question How are children affected by exposure to social media?

Specific Research Question What is the effect of Instagram Likes on the self-esteem of
young children under the age of 12?

Comparison Question What are advantages and disadvantages of cell phone use
in schools?

Analysis Question How does restricting cell phone use in school affect
student social interaction?

Quick Search Question Has the population of the world increased in the past
century?

Deeper Research Question What factors have influenced population growth in the
fastest growing countries?
 Do Students believe that they have so much
schoolwork that they don’t have their own time?

Yes, a lot of students believe that schoolwork takes over time

after school. They think that homework takes more time at
home than necessary.
How can social Media affect the mental well being
of students?

Social media causes students to have an over excessive

amount of dopamine which puts the happiness/pain balance
off and causes students to feel depressed when they are not
on their phones. This causes the to have a reliance on their
phone.
 What are some things we can do to retain
mental well being?

Going outside
Vacation
Hanging out with friends.
Meditating or taking a break.
 Your group MUST choose and
complete one of the following!
Need help more help? Looking to improve your work?
Complete this “Should Do” activity Complete this “Aspire To” activity

Review your questions and assess the following: Review and refine your research questions
▸ Clarity: Is the question clearly stated and easily ▸ Interdisciplinary Connections: Can you
understood? introduce perspectives or insights from
multiple fields of study that add depth to
▸ Specificity: Is the question specific and focused on
a particular issue? your question?

▸ Relevance: Does the question address a significant ▸ Real-World Impact: How might your research
or important topic in the field? contribute to practical solutions or address
real-world problems?
▸ Feasibility: Is it realistic and achievable within the
scope of available resources and time?
 Mastery Check #2

You must meet with the teacher to

receive feedback before moving
on to the next section
3.
Research
and Data Collection
Evaluating our sources
Resource #1 Link:
Use this space to collect images and pictures from your source
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590260124000298

Who is the author? Iqra

When is the publication date? September 23, 2024

What is the purpose of this article/source? Show us the effect of Academic stress

Does the author have a bias? No

Which research question does this address? What are some things we can do to retain
mental well being?

Cross-reference this source with Not needed

Use the space below to gather data or information from this source to help guide your YPAR Project

● Changes in social circles can cause vulnerability to stress

● Excessive workload can cause stress vulnerability
● Fear of failure can can cause excessive work and put stress on the body
● Bad time management make a lot of flaw in completing work which
makes people take even longer to finish their work.
Evaluating our sources
Resource #2 Link:
https://www.nivati.com/blog/neuroscience-what-social-media-does-to-your-brain Use this space to collect images and pictures from your source

Who is the author? Liaden Gunter

When is the publication date? December 14, 2023

What is the purpose of this article/source? To show affects of Social Media

Does the author have a bias? No

Which research question does this address? How can social media affect your Mental
health?

Cross-reference this source with None Needed

Use the space below to gather data or information from this source to help guide your YPAR Project

● Increased Fomo (Fear of missing out)

● 30 minutes of social media can help you mentally
● You can use Apps to maintain screen time
● Impacts concentrations
Evaluating our sources
Use this space to collect images and pictures from your source
Resource #3 Link:https://www.apa.org/ed/schools/primer/stress

Who is the author? Amanda Dettmer

When is the publication date? April 2022

What is the purpose of this article/source? To inform readers about academic stress.

Does the author have a bias? No

Which research question does this address? Do Students believe that they have so much
schoolwork that they don’t have their own
time?
Use the space below to gather data or information from this source to help guide your YPAR Project

Cross-reference this source with

Teachers should listen to students and observe for signs of stress such as
agitation.
Areas such as “chill zones” should be included in classrooms to help relax
students.
Evaluating our sources
Resource #4 Link:
https://biomedpharmajournal.org/vol11no1/academic-stress-and-its-
sources-among-university-students/ Use this space to collect images and pictures from your source

Who is the author? K. Jayasankara Reddy, Karishma Rajan Menon and

AnjanaThattil

When is the publication date? March 13 2018

What is the purpose of this article/source? It is informative with many statistics

Does the author have a bias? Not apparently

Which research question does this address? What are some things we can do to retain mental
health?

Cross-reference this source with

Use the space below to gather data or information from this source to help guide your YPAR Project

Academic stress affects people of all ages or grades.

Depression and stress go hand in hand

“The educational system also plays an enabling role subsequently leading to

increased stress levels experienced by students. Some of the sources include
overcrowded lecture halls, semester grading system, inadequate resources and
facilities, vastness of syllabus, long hours and expectations of rote learning.
Evaluating our sources
Resource #5 Link: Use this space to collect images and pictures from your source
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590260124000298

Who is the author? Elsevier Ltd.

When is the publication date? 2024

What is the purpose of this article/source? To inform readers about the issue of
academic stress.

Does the author have a bias? no

Which research question does this address? Do Students believe that they have so much
schoolwork that they don’t have their own
time?
Use the space below to gather data or information from this source to help guide your YPAR Project

Cross-reference this source

This article explains thewith
source of academic stress and how to resolve them.
They also explain the different types of stress which are
 Data Collection and Community Outreach
***You MUST consult with Mr. Levy before attempting to collect data or reach
out to community members. There is no exception.***

Collecting Data may be necessary to help you better understand what

improvements or solutions people are looking for with your YPAR Project.

There are various ways to collect data:

● Anonymous Classroom Questionnaire

● Focus Groups
● Interviews
● Collecting Photos, Charts, or Graphs
● Mapping Locations

Community Outreach may be a great way to get in contact with local groups or
organizations that are involved or are already working towards improving or
solving your YPAR issue.

There are various ways to reach out:

● Email
● Phone Call
 Data Collection and Community Outreach
***You MUST consult with Mr. Levy before attempting to collect data or reach
out to community members. There is no exception.***

List your ideas for Data Collecting in the space below List people or organizations you could reach out to for your project

● Surveys
● Personal questioning
● JAMS students
●

List what you would need to complete your data collection

I would need as many people as possible to

give their input on our topic by filling out the
survey or talking face to face.

Survey
link:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIp
QLScvC_ZxwjtYQP8QsBZj7G2w1c8FFclKtKBZf
oRM96Bg5ZbhVg/viewform?usp=dialog
 Data Collection and Community Outreach
***You MUST consult with Mr. Levy before attempting to collect data or reach
out to community members. There is no exception.***

Data Collection Strategy: Who are you planning on contacting?

Identify their name and contact information below.

Insert Data Collection Questions Here

We are not planning on contacting any one person in particular
rather we are asking anyone who is in the school system.the
school system.

List what you would need to complete your data collection Log when you reach out to your contacts below and if they
responded to you. CONTACT MUST GO THROUGH MR. AUSTRIA

● As many people to fill out the survey

 Mastery Check #3

You must meet with the teacher to

receive feedback before moving
on to the next section
4.
Identifying
Policies
What are Policies and Procedures?
Watch the video below to learn about policies and procedures.
 What policies or procedures are you aware of that are in
place now in regards to your YPAR Topic?
Fill in what you know in the boxes below!

This initiative, supported by various

Federal Partners in School Health federal agencies, promotes
(FPSH): collaboration and resources to support
student health and well-being,

CPSC This refers to a certificate required by

the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC) for certain
children's products to demonstrate
compliance with safety standards.

Allowing mental health days for Bill S2151 was put into action by
excused absences: Senator Richard J. Codey. It allows for
5 days of mental health days off.

Academic Workload Management This Policy manages the workload a

Policy student gets in each state or town as a
whole and is managed by the state
government.
Highlight a Policy from your list and identify the Pros and Cons

Policy #1: Federal Partners in School Health (FPSH):

Pros Cons

- Supports student health and - Costs a lot of resources and

well being. money to fuel student
- Provides resources to help mental health.
students.
Highlight a Policy from your list and identify the Pros and Cons

Policy #2: CPSC

Pros Cons

- Insures safety on students. - Expense on the government.

- Provides quality education - Limited schools being
equipment to students. provided with necessary
equipment.
Highlight a Policy from your list and identify the Pros and Cons

Policy #3: Bill S2151

Pros Cons

- Allows students to take breaks - Less school days.

from all the work. - Students have to make up
- Gives more efficiency in all the work they miss.
schools. - Students can just skip
- Students have better mental school with the excuse of
health. mental health.
Highlight a Policy from your list and identify the Pros and Cons

Policy #4: Academic Workload Management Policy

Pros Cons

- Students get a balanced - Not guaranteed that the

amount of work (hopefully). workload will be balanced.
- The workload can be changed - Possibility of increased
more efficiently. workload put on students.
 Create a proposal for a new policy or for a solution to improve
your YPAR topic! Response needs to be specific!

We propose a club where students have weekly check-ins

on their mental health, they also engage in activities and
sports to decompress and relieve stress. This club can help
the students relieve stress as well as making them have
fun in the process. Students may feel more relieved and
energized, which leads to increased efficiency as well as
various benefits towards their personality and growth.
 Your group MUST choose and
complete one of the following!

Need help more help? Looking to improve your work?

Complete this “Should Do” activity Complete this “Aspire To” activity

Review this checklist: Rethink your approach:

▸ Clarity: Is the language of the policy clear and ▸ Technology Integration: How can technology enhance
easily understandable? the implementation and communication of policies?

▸ Legal Compliance: Do the policies adhere to ▸ User-Friendly Design: Can policies be presented in a
relevant laws and regulations? more user-friendly and engaging format?

▸ Proactive Problem Solving: How can policies be

▸ Alignment: Are policies aligned with the goals of
designed to proactively address challenges and promote
your YPAR Project?
a positive organizational culture?
▸ Accessibility: Are policies easily accessible to all ▸ Feedback: Can policies incorporate mechanisms for
relevant stakeholders? ongoing feedback and improvement?
 Mastery Check #4

You must meet with the teacher to

receive feedback before moving
on to the next section
5. How we plan to put our
plan to action and
Implementation improve our YPAR Topic
 Public Policy

Introduce a Public Policy that you would like to create or improve on:
▸ Stress in student life policy

Why is the Public Policy you created or improved on necessary?

▸ The club helps the students vent about the workload they get
▸ It can help the students do their homework with other peers
and classmates.
 Identifying Potential Problems

Who are some people or some groups that might get in your way?
▸ Some people that give answers or discourage people from
going to the club can get in the way.

What are some roadblocks that could occur when working on

improvements or solutions for your YPAR Project?
▸ Not a lot of people coming to our club for mental health.
The Solution
How can you get opponents of your YPAR Project on your side?
▸ We can show how our YPAR project can impact students in a
positive way

How do you avoid the potential roadblocks so you can achieve the goals
of your YPAR Project?
▸ We can promote our project and get voucher from kids who are in
the club.
 *Action Plans need to be focused, achievable, and easy to
4 Step Action Plan understand. Should have a clear goal or end result.

1. We will put flyers out 2. We will do small

to get traction for our fundraising events to raise
awareness for our club. Some
club. This is an easy fundraisers will be, Bake
low cost way to sales, Candy sales, Fun game
promote our club and events.
it's services.
3. Get our school 4. We will hire people
(JAMS) to sponsor our for our club who are
club as a nonprofit club.
This way we will have good at managing
access to facilities for schoolwork and stress.
our club as well as
operating funds.
Influencing Individuals and Groups

How could you influence the opinion of individuals to gain

their support?
▸ We could provide candy to motivate students to join
our club

How could you encourage opposing groups to join you in

achieving the goals of your YPAR Project?
▸ We could show the mental impact we have on
students and convince them to join us.
 Swaying Government Officials
How can your group influence government officials to
speak on your behalf and represent your YPAR Project?
▸ After the club runs for around 5 months we can
take a poll to see how much the club impacted
students in a positive way and present those
statistics.

How can you sway the opinions of opposing government

officials that don’t agree with the goals of your YPAR
Project?
▸ We will show the statistics of our survey as well as
published stats on our topic. Then we can sway
their opinions with real world answers. We can ask
people who are in the club of the impact the club
had on their mental health.
 Your group MUST choose and
complete one of the following!

Need help more help? Looking to improve your work?

Complete this “Should Do” activity Complete this “Aspire To” activity

Review and complete the following: Review and complete the following:
▸ Define SMART Goals: Clearly articulate specific, ▸ Innovative Solutions: Encourage your group
measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound to think creatively and propose innovative
goals
solutions to challenges
▸ Task Breakdown: Break down the goal of each action
step into actionable tasks or milestones ▸ Adaptability: How can the action plan be
designed to adapt to changing
▸ Timelines: Establish realistic timelines for circumstances or new information?
completing each task

▸ Challenges and strategies: Identify potential

challenges and develop strategies to address them
 Mastery Check #5

You must meet with the teacher to

receive feedback before moving
on to the next section
6. Our thoughts on Project
Reflection Citizen and our journey to
the finish
 Insert name of
Student 1 Reflection: student here
 Insert name of
Student 2 Reflection: student here
 Insert name of
Student 3 Reflection: student here
 Insert name of
Student 4 Reflection: student here
 Mastery Check #6

You must meet with the teacher to

receive feedback before moving
on to the next section
 Congratulations!

You have completed the

YPAR Research Slides with you
group!

At this point, you will need to

create the following:
▸ Create your Project Slideshow
▸ Create your YPAR Project Tri-Fold