Neuroscientific research conducted by Total Brain and the Center for Adolescent Research and Education shows that students’ scores for concentration, planning, memory, and resilience are well below the standard average.

SAN FRANCISCO, February 24, 2021 / PRNewswire / – The COVID pandemic is having a dramatic impact on the mental health of American college students which, in turn, affects valuable cognitive abilities like memory, concentration, and planning. According to a neuroscientific study conducted by Total Brain and the Center for Adolescent Research and Education (CARE):

  • 48% of high school and college students are at risk of general anxiety

  • 45% are at risk of social anxiety

  • 39% are at risk of PTSD

  • The risk of common mental health problems is 19% to 41% higher in women than in men

Academic success is inextricably linked with brain capacities which are themselves directly affected by risk to mental health.

The deterioration of mental health is generally linked to a decline in cognitive abilities. Expressed in percentile rank, the standard average for any capacity is 50e percentile ranking. However, the average percentile rank of students in this study was well below the standard mean:

  • Memory: 37e percentile rank (13 percentile points below the standard mean)

  • Concentration: 37e percentile rank (13 percentile points below the standard mean)

  • Planning: 34e percentile rank (16 percentile points lower than the standard mean)

“Academic success is inextricably linked with brain capacities which are themselves directly affected by risk to mental health,” noted Louis Gagnon, CEO, Total Brain. “High risk can have serious repercussions on student engagement, performance and graduation rates. Investments in student mental health are essential for academic success and can result in economic benefits for educational institutions and society in general. “

“The psychological fallout of having an entire student population under long periods of stress cannot be underestimated,” said Stephen Gray Wallace, President and Director, CARE. “We know that adolescents and young adults are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of the pandemic on mental health. What is so unique about the Total Brain approach is that it examines the relationship between issues of mental health and actual brain capacity These results indicate a strong need to provide self-monitoring and self-care tools to the student body.

“The importance of providing students with resources that strengthen their resilience and flexibility in the face of conflict or change has never been more evident than now,” noted Barry a garst, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Leadership for Youth Development, Clemson University. “The benefits of the Total Brain Assessment that was used in this research cannot be underestimated. Students can greatly benefit from self-assessment and scientifically proven exercises designed to help them develop their cognitive strengths. while addressing deficit areas requiring development. “

This research was conducted between August and October 2020 and included 1,000 randomly selected American students, ages 13 to 22, across the United States. The results are based on the Total Brain Assessment, which uses standardized, scientific numerical tasks and questions to measure an individual’s twelve brain capacities in the areas of emotion, feeling, cognition and mastery. self. In addition, the assessment examines the risk of seven common mental health problems.

For more information on this research, visit www.totalbrain.com/studentresearch.

About Total Brain: Total Brain is based at San Francisco and listed on the stock exchange in Sydney, AUS (ASX: TTB). Total Brain is a self-monitoring and self-care platform for mental health and brain performance that has 1M Registered users. Benefits for employers and payers include better access to mental health care, lower costs, and higher productivity. totalbrain.com

About the Center for Adolescent Research and Education (CARE): CARE is a national nonprofit collaboration based in Palm Beach County, Florida. CARE’s mission is to provide the best applied or normative research available on youth development and decision making. CARE’s vision is to dramatically increase positive youth outcomes and reduce youth risky behaviors by fundamentally changing the way peers, parents and other caring adults talk to teens about decision making. ecarekids.org

Total Brain Logo (PRNewsfoto / MyBrainSolutions)

Total Brain Logo (PRNewsfoto / MyBrainSolutions)

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SOURCE Total brain