According to a recent study from Northwestern University, the stress on attaining academic goals can often result to a health toll on individuals - meaning they age quicker.

The lead author of the research, Prof. Gregory E. Miller, quoted saying, “We find that the psychologically successful adolescents - those with high self-control (who meet constant academic targets) have cells that are biologically old relative to their chronological age.”

The research have used approximately 300 African-American teenagers as they undergone transitioning from adolescence to adulthood. They also found out that those who attained a success academically were less depressed, used substances less often and were less aggressive.

To read more about this article, please go at independent.co.uk

This study definitely makes sense. If a child is influenced by his or her parents to do well in school, they are more likely to push themselves to do well. Most students that are focused on their studies will not spend time using substances.

I can also see how it can have an opposite effect: if a child is being pushed by their parents to do well in school, the stress may lead them to using substances.

@rosey good points. In my experience, pupils who spend time focused on their subjects and goals (university, GCSE, A-levels) manage to avoid falling into the traps of using drugs etc.

This doesnt reflect my school AT ALL.