Although it may not seem like it at times, Homework is extremely important as it actually provides you with many benefits. For example, it teaches discipline, time management, and independent learning. However, if done excessively, homework can turn into something very negative and cause many disadvantages such as lack of sleep, headaches, exhaustion, and weight loss. This is not the end of it since this can also cause students to experience stress, anxiety, depression, physical ailments, and even lower test scores.
Galloway’s study demonstrated that students who spent more than 3 hours on homework per night experienced greater behavioral engagement in school but also more academic stress, physical health problems, and lack of balance in their lives. This study determined that, instead of homework being beneficial, it was more like a stressor causing anxiety in student’s lives.
Excessive homework not only can cause anxiety and stress, but it can go to a higher level: depression. Handling homework, as well as social activities, may be difficult to achieve. This can leave students feeling lonely or isolated. Students may prefer to do their homework, causing less time to cultivate relationships outside of school. Furthermore, students who feel overwhelmed with homework have a harder time balancing their family life, extracurricular activities, and social life. Leading them to isolation and depression.
Another study conducted by Stanford University found that excessive homework in teens is linked to physical health problems as well as high levels of stress and disrupted sleep. According to the Better Sleep Council, 57% of teenagers agreed that they do not get enough sleep and 67% explained that they get 5 to 7 hours of sleep, which is under the recommended average of 8 hours.
The National PTA and the National Education Association explained that high school students who are in 9th grade should have no more than 90 minutes of homework and seniors no more than 2 hours of homework. This is because students become more productive with less homework since they have more time to do it. On the other hand, excessive homework may result in bad academic performance, and also it can encourage cheating. Students who find that they can’t do the homework because they don’t have time, but know it’s a large part of their grade, often cheat. As such, the main goal of homework disappears. Homework can be good for you but when something is excessive, it never brings beneficial results. Homework should be regulated by the school and the teachers. Teachers may not see the effects excessive homework can cause in students, but the effects are very serious. Students should have some practice and homework to help them understand the topic better, but when there is excessive homework, the purpose of the homework is destroyed leading students to cheat, not understand the topic, and it also brings negative effects on their academics. Furthermore, excessive homework causes many problems in the minds of students, creating stress, anxiety, and even depression.
