You attended boarding school? This is why you may develop mental issues

Mental health – Boarding schools have long term psychological effects on adolescents that span up to adulthood, especially if they are not dealt with at some point. These effects may vary depending on individual circumstances, specific boarding school environment and the available support system for the adolescent.

Adolescence is the developmental period which occurs between childhood and adulthood, spanning from around 10 to 19 years. This period is critical in psychological development marked by development in terms of abstract thinking, emotional, moral development and identity formation.

Identity crisis

Adolescence is a critical stage for formation of self identity and self concept. Boarding schools with their structured environments and social hierarchies significantly influence an adolescent sense of self.

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While some students may develop strong self-concept, others may struggle with identity issues especially if they experience social exclusion or are forced to conform to popular school and social norms, stifling personal identity development. In adulthood the former boarding students may have an issue in determining who they really are, because their true self was undermined in boarding school.

Avoidant attachment behaviour

Boarding schools causes an adolescent to feel abandoned by their parents or guardians. From the life of living with loved ones to moving to a new environment with total strangers causes great mental distress and the development of trust issues.

In their developing minds it is ingrained that people leave at any time while in adulthood the avoidant attachment behaviour is prominent due to fear of being abandoned again. This group of former boarding school students find it hard to form long term meaningful relationships.

Mental health disorders

The intense academic pressure, social challenges and potential bullying or isolation in boarding schools can contribute to mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. If these issues are not dealt with on time, they culminate into anxiety disorders, clinical depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Former boarding students are more likely to experience this in their adulthood.

Emotional suppression and Regulation

Boarding schools are characterised by highly disciplined environments teaching children to suppress emotions. While this can lead to improved emotional regulation, it may also result in long-term difficulties with emotional expression.

Nick Duffell, in his book Wounded Leaders: British Elitism and the Entitlement Illusion, discusses how former boarding school students often learn to mask their true emotions, leading to challenges in expressing vulnerability and building authentic relationships later in life.

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Moreover, boarding schools are characterised by a high need for academic excellence. Most adolescents tend to be conditioned to believe that without performing well in academics, one has failed in life. This causes lack of motivation and a need to be perfect in everything they pursue. It builds a strong fear of failure and in adulthood it might cause high stress levels leading to terminal diseases such as high blood pressure.