Student Well-Being Drops Sharply in Senior School Years, IC3 Institute Study Finds

August 21, 2026

Student well-being across India declines significantly as pupils advance through senior secondary grades, according to findings from the Student Well-Being Pulse Report released by the IC3 Institute. Based on survey responses from 8,515 students nationwide, the study indicates a steady reduction in happiness, confidence, and sleep duration alongside a rise in negative emotional states among older students.

What Happened

The IC3 Institute, in collaboration with the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), launched the report at the 10th Annual IC3 Conference and Expo in Mumbai. The assessment surveyed students primarily between Grades 8 and 12 via Google Forms distributed through email and WhatsApp. It forms part of a broader initiative focusing on mental health, student well-being, and suicide aversion.

According to the findings, the proportion of students reporting high overall well-being dropped from 62% in Grade 8 to 43% in Grade 12. Similar downward trends were observed across other self-reported measures: happiness fell from 65% in Grade 8 to 48% in Grade 12, confidence declined from 64% to 47%, and motivation dropped from 64% to 49%.

Key Highlights

Emotional Profile: Negative feelings, including anxiety, low energy, frustration, sadness, and loneliness, peaked among senior pupils in Grades 11 and 12, reflecting academic loads, board examinations, burnout, and college planning.
Gender Differences: Female students reported higher levels of negative emotions than male students across every measured category. Specifically, 33% of girls reported experiencing anxiety compared to 23% of boys. However, girls reported flourishing more in social and emotional spheres, whereas boys scored higher on personal resilience indicators.
Severe Sleep Deprivation: Sleep patterns deteriorated as students advanced in school. Among students in Grades 11 and 12, 19% slept less than five hours per night, nearly half slept between five and six hours, and only 22% to 23% obtained the recommended seven to eight hours.
Help-Seeking Behavior: When requiring assistance, 49% of students turned to friends and 44% to family. Only 13% approached teachers, 6% consulted school counsellors, and 2% sought professional therapists. Notably, 52% of respondents stated they believe counselling or therapy would be helpful.
Social Belonging: A majority of students reported positive baseline indicators of social connection: 78% reported having a close friend at school, 78% felt supported by family and friends, 74% felt safe and included, 70% were hopeful about the future, and 62% felt happy at school.

Why This Matters

The report highlights a growing disparity between the pressures faced by secondary school students and the formal mental health support systems available to them. While more than half of the surveyed students view counselling as beneficial, only a minimal percentage actively seek help from counsellors or therapists. Furthermore, the steep decline in sleep occurs during the exact school years when cognitive demands and board exam preparations reach their peak.

What to Watch Next

As educational institutions review these findings, attention remains on how accessible structured mental health resources become within schools. Observers are also monitoring whether support systems can successfully address the specific emotional challenges and sleep deficits impacting students in Grades 11 and 12.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the sample size of the IC3 Institute survey?

The survey collected responses from 8,515 students across India, with the majority enrolled in Grades 8 through 12.

How does student well-being compare between Grade 8 and Grade 12?

The survey found that high overall well-being fell from 62% in Grade 8 to 43% in Grade 12, with corresponding decreases in student motivation, happiness, and confidence.

What are the primary sources of support for students in distress?

Students primarily turn to friends (49%) and family (44%), while smaller proportions consult teachers (13%), school counsellors (6%), or professional therapists (2%).

Source: Based on the Student Well-Being Pulse Report by IC3 Institute and CISCE, reported by The Hindu.