UAE: Students’ key emotional challenges linked to exam, school, friendship pressures

Anxiety, low mood, and anger were the most common emotional challenges reported by pupils on a real-time wellbeing and pupil voice platform. According to Lumii.me’s Wellbeing & Safeguarding Trends Report for Term 3, these challenges are often linked to school and friendship pressures. Sadness and low self-esteem rounded off the top five themes.

“These reflect the emotional reality for many pupils, ranging from everyday stress to more serious concerns,” said Laura Tristram, co-founder and wellbeing manager at Lumii.me, in an interview with Khaleej Times.

She added that these themes often reflect pressures around exams, friendships, and feeling misunderstood by adults. Children reported anxiety that affected sleep and schoolwork, low mood manifested as withdrawal and a desire to avoid activities, and anger frequently related to frustration, feeling unheard, or conflicts at home or school.

Understanding pupils’ emotions

Laura explained the typical patterns behind each emotional challenge:

Anxiety: Ongoing worries disrupt sleep, schoolwork, and relationships. Pupils often feel misunderstood by adults. Requests for help and reassurance are common.
Low mood: Often accompanied by loneliness, withdrawal, or avoidance of activities, particularly when pupils have no one to talk to.
Anger: Can appear as withdrawal or outbursts, usually tied to frustration, feeling unheard, or conflict at home or school.
Sadness: Frequently tied to friendship problems, feeling left out, or changes at home. Children often seek advice, reassurance, or someone to listen.
Low self-esteem: Many pupils feel they are not “good enough” compared to classmates or friends, highlighting the need for encouragement and support.

“I think many children and young people are taught to suppress their negative feelings in public. However, we know only too well that this does not mean they just magically disappear. Feelings need to be processed and managed, and this is where Lumii really helps, as they can rant and vent in a safe and controlled space, process their emotions, and then move on,” said Laura.

Digital wellbeing support

Working with 10 UAE schools, the platform recorded 67,484 conversations in Term 3, a 16% increase from Term 2, highlighting growing adoption of digital wellbeing support in schools. Most conversations, about 87 per cent, were coded green, showing no immediate cause for concern.

About 13 per cent were flagged as moderate or high safeguarding concern (Amber, Red, or Purple). Severe (Red) cases rose 25 per cent compared with the previous term, partly due to higher user numbers and the summer term exam period.

Despite these concerns, the report also shows encouraging signs. Positive emotions such as happiness, joy, and resilience increased through Term 3.

Key takeaways

The report provides clear guidance for supporting pupils’ wellbeing:

Anxiety impacts sleep, learning, and social life. Pupils need to feel listened to and given clear coping strategies.
Low mood and isolation show the importance of supportive relationships and a sense of classroom belonging.
Anger requires safe outlets and positive ways to manage strong feelings.
Sadness, often stemming from friendship issues or exclusion, highlights the importance of regular check-ins.
Low self-esteem can undermine learning and participation, making praise, celebrating effort, and role-modelling resilience crucial.

Schools receive weekly wellbeing reports and termly summaries, plus recommendations on staff training, peer support, wellbeing checks, and celebrating achievement. Laura said Lumii is working with partner schools to embed these recommendations into school culture and to involve parents as part of a 360-degree wellbeing support system.