my data page

Here Google Trends data shows the correlation between searches for the SAT with stress, anxiety and depression. This data is over five years and holds a pattern of direct correlation through almost all five years.

This graph shows how each state varies its searches. By clicking on each individidual state you can see that almost all searches represent the overall trend in America. Such that SAT scores lead the search and are then followed by searches for depression.

Interestingly, Google trends data points out that ACT searches are much more common than SAT. I also do not see as much of a correlation with regards to ACT which is weird becuase it is basically the same thing. The zoom on the graph, however, allows a different view on how closely related the SAT is with stress and depression.

Additional info:

No studies have been done on the SAT and the relation to things like stress and anxiety. However, there has been an obvious link to school and these emotions, and it is likely that the SAT is part of the anxiety of school seen in High Schoolers:

Fully 83 percent of teens said that school was “a somewhat or significant source of stress.” Twenty-seven percent reported “extreme stress” during the school year, though that number fell to 13 percent during summer. And 10 percent felt that stress had had a negative impact on their grades (Washington Post).

Some 32 percent reported experiencing headaches, 21 percent reported upset stomach or indigestion and 23 percent had skipped a meal because of stress (Washington Post).

A California study of 2007 shows that the SAT was the poorest predictor of college performance when compared with high school grades and performance on subject test (Miramonte Mirador).

After taking the SAT, many students are upset with their scores and can not seem to get what they want no matter how hard they try. Although no study has been done to determine the correlation it is likely that all students who care about where they go to college and do not get what they want on the SAT feel somewhat sad or upset at their score.