American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Stress in America: Generation Z. 

Background: The report by the APA provides an overview of the stressors that are currently affecting Generation Z, emphasizing academic pressures, social media influences, and mental health challenges. This provides statistics and more of a firm basis for the argument that pressures are worsening more and more as each new generation comes along.

How I used it: I used this in my essay by referencing the APA’s findings as a way to underscore the prevalence of academic stress among adolescents. This allowed for me to showcase why this is an issue now more than ever as well by using this to cross-reference this to another piece of evidence in order to contrast these pressures that are faced by the youth of today to the pressures of the youth of previous generations.

Birkner, J. (2020). Why late-night deadlines are hurting students. Technician. 

Background: This article explores the impact of late-night academic deadlines, discussing how they contribute to stress and procrastination among students. This also helps to outline an area that contributes greatly to student stress within the context of the essay.

How I used it: I used this source to support the claim that the increasing prevalence of 11:59 deadlines exacerbate student stress and negatively affects mental health. This will show exactly why stress in the youth today is at higher levels than any generation before, showing how the stress of deadlines is more unavoidable now than it ever has been before. This source is also used to help create a nuance by recognizing that as damaging as this deadline may be, it may be unrealistic to get rid of these, which is why the solution presented may be the better of the two.

Exeter, University of. (2019). Two hours a week in nature is key to health and well-being. ScienceDaily.

Background: This study demonstrated the significant mental and physical health benefits of spending time in natural environments. It overviews just how even a small amount of time can have a massive benefit if consistent enough.

How I used it: This article helped to provide scientific validation for the essay’s central argument that reconnecting with nature can alleviate stress among students as we as be beneficial for their overall health. This source was used as more of a background to help create the overall framework for my argument as none of the specific metrics from this article were used.

Frontiers in Psychology. (2020). Ten minutes in nature reduces stress: A study of heart rate and cortisol levels. Frontiers in Psychology. 

Background: This research highlights how even brief exposure to nature can reduce physiological stress markers, such as cortisol levels and heart rate. This research gets into more of the specifics as to why exactly stress levels decrease when spending time out in nature.

How I used it: This was cited to reinforce the practicality of nature-based solutions as a stress-reduction strategy for students. By citing more specific information with the actual science behind it, regarding the lower heart rate and cortisol levels, this source strengthened the credibility of the argument as a whole. This was because it not only showed what would happen when students spend more time in nature, but also why this will happen.

Goodweather, E. (2022). Why do students procrastinate? Teachers confirm that 11:59 is the magic hour. Three Penny Press.

Background: This article discusses how late-night deadlines impact student behavior, particularly in regards to procrastination and stress. This uses the points of view of multiple teachers as well as students to showcase that this is seen as an issue not just by students, but by teachers as well.

How I used it: This article supports the critique of the 11:59 p.m. deadlines, emphasizing their contribution to the cycle of stress and burnout among students. This was used as a causal section of my essay, but highlighting what exactly causes or contributes to the cause of heightened student stress compared to any prior generations. This was also used more so to show what can contribute to the causes of the stress, rather than assigning the blame that this is the only issue at hand.

Harvard Gazette. (2019). The health benefits of spending time in nature. Harvard Gazette. 

Background: This article reviews a few studies on the psychological and physiological benefits of spending time outdoors. This mesh of different studies provides a stronger argument as to the reasoning behind the claims made as it utilizes multiple outlets that all say the time thing.

How I used it: This helps to provide evidence to connect Thoreau’s philosophy with modern research, demonstrating how nature can mitigate the stress of students today. This also serves as something to help provide weight behind these claims and studies as they are not simply published in some random paper or on some website, but rather are published and reviewed by one of the most well known and well respected medical schools in the world.

Johnson, B., & Raynor, A. (2016). Outdoor education: Challenges and opportunities in modern education systems. Journal of Education and Development, 35(4), 42-56.

Background: This academic article examines the practical and logistical barriers to implementing outdoor education in modern schools. Because this examines some of the most prevalent issues in regards to implementing nature into education, it shows what issues must be addressed if this is to become a realistic goal.

How I used it: This provides the counterarguments regarding the feasibility of integrating nature into the school system, which are then addressed and rebutted within the essay. By adding this rebuttal section into the essay, it shows a deeper level of thinking and understanding of the issue in that it was viewed from all angles and consideration before being put into the argument. This creates more depth and creates a stronger base for the argument as well.

National Institutes of Health. (2017). The effects of nature exposure on mental health and stress. NIH Public Access. 

Background: This study investigates the correlation between exposure to nature and mental health outcomes, focusing on stress reduction. This provides a more in-depth view at what is going on as well as drawing from multiple authors to ensure proper accuracy.

How I used it: This article supports the essay’s thesis that even limited exposure to natural environments can have profound benefits for students’ mental health. Using a well-known, government website database for research also strengthens the claims by showing that this is not only something backed by a few authors or independent studies, but rather that it is also backed by the national government as well.

Pew Research Center. (2018). Anxiety and depression: A major problem among teens. Pew Research Center. 

Background: This report explores the growing mental health challenges among adolescents, with a focus on anxiety and depression. This overviews what contributes to adolescent stress as well as how it can affect them as well.

How I used it: I cited this report to establish the broader context of stress and mental health issues faced by modern adolescents. It provided more of a background role as well in furthering my understanding on what can contribute to adolescent stress and how it impacts them on a deeper level.

Thoreau, H. D. (1854). Walden; or, Life in the Woods. Boston: Ticknor and Fields.

Background: This book is Thoreau’s memoir that details his experiment in simplicity and solitude, advocating for a life connected to nature. This was his way of reflecting on the meaning of life and establishing how to live deliberately in a sense.

How I used it: This book serves of the philosophical foundation for my argument that reconnecting with nature can address the modern stresses of academic life or, at the very least, help diminish it. This provided both the idea for the main argument, which allowed me to grasp a deeper understanding of why being with nature is so important as well the importance of taking the time to appreciate the simplicity of life and nature.

Twenge, J. M. (2017). iGen: Why today’s super-connected kids are growing up less rebellious, more tolerant, less happy—and completely unprepared for adulthood. Atria Books.

Background: This book examines the mental health and behavioral impact of technology of the youth of today. It goes into depth on the dangers that technology and social media can pose to the younger generations.

How I used it: I used this book to contextualize the unique stressors that face the youth of today, including academic pressures that are amplified by digital technology. This helped me to get a better understanding of the overarching issues that these adolescents face as well as got me thinking on what can be done to help address it.