13 May 2026
Exam season is now well underway in schools across the country, with young people taking GCSE, A level, SATs and mock exams. Wishing them all good luck!
While the focus is often on revision and results, exam season can also place significant pressure on young people’s relationships – with friends, romantic partners and family.
Stress can bring a range of relationship dynamics to the surface. For parents, carers and professionals supporting a young person through this period, understanding what may be happening beneath the surface can make it easier to respond in helpful ways.
The 10 signs of healthy and unhealthy relationship behaviours offer a useful lens for making sense of what young people may be experiencing during exams.
With this in mind, here are seven ways exam season can affect relationships – and what healthy support can look like.
1. Young people often manage other people’s emotions before their own
Many young people take on the role of supporting others during exam season – reassuring friends, absorbing stress, and managing group dynamics.
While this reflects kindness and trust – healthy relationship behaviours – it can become overwhelming if it comes at the expense of their own wellbeing.
Healthy relationship focus: boundaries and independence
Young people need to know it’s okay to step back, prioritise their own needs, and not carry responsibility for everyone else’s emotions.
2. Comparison can undermine trust and self-confidence
Exam season often heightens comparison and can also feel isolating, as young people spend long periods studying alone in their rooms.
Young people may find themselves surrounded by peers expected to achieve top grades, who still feel they have performed badly. Others may feel quietly satisfied with an exam but hesitate to express it.
This can lead to:
- Self-doubt
- Guilt about doing well
- Tension in friendships or relationships
Healthy relationship focus: trust and honesty
Encouraging young people to be honest about their own experiences – and to trust that different outcomes don’t threaten their relationships – can reduce this pressure.
3. Romantic relationships can feel more intense
Under pressure, relationships can become more emotionally charged, with greater intensity and volatility as young people navigate the highs and lows of how they feel an exam has gone.
There may be:
- Increased reliance on constant communication
- A need for reassurance
- Heightened sensitivity to small changes in tone or behaviour
In some cases, this can tip into unhealthy relationship behaviours like intensity, possessiveness and volatility.
Healthy relationship focus: independence, equality and fun
Maintaining space, routine, and individual focus during exams helps relationships stay supportive rather than overwhelming. But it’s also important to have some fun and let go during exam periods.
4. Family relationships shape the emotional environment
Parents and carers play a key role during exam season – not just practically, but emotionally.
Young people are highly attuned to:
- Expectations
- Reactions to stress
- How success and failure are discussed – and perceived
Healthy relationship focus: respect, honesty and owning actions
Creating an environment where young people feel respected and able to express themselves honestly without fear of judgement supports both wellbeing and communication.
5. Communication can easily become pressured
Simple questions like “How did it go?” can feel difficult for young people to answer – especially when they are still processing the experience.
This can lead to:
- Withdrawal
- Frustration
- Misunderstandings
Healthy relationship focus: trust, kindness and respect
Giving young people control over when and how they communicate – and accepting different responses – helps reduce tension and supports more positive interactions.
6. Friendships may shift – and reveal what feels healthy
During exam season, some friendships become more supportive, while others may feel draining or difficult to manage.
Young people might notice behaviours such as:
- Increased negativity or comparison
- Lack of support
- Subtle belittling or competition – which can border on sabotage
Healthy relationship focus: kindness, equality and fun
Supportive friendships are those where young people feel encouraged, valued, and able to relax – even during stressful times.
7. Self-worth can become tied to performance
Exams can strongly influence how young people see themselves.
This can affect relationships through:
- Increased sensitivity
- Withdrawal or defensiveness
- Over-reliance on others for reassurance
In some cases, this may lead to unhealthy dynamics such as guilting and sabotage.
Healthy relationship focus: owning actions and boundaries
Helping young people separate how they perceive their value from their results supports healthier interactions and more stable relationships.
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Exam season is a challenging time – not just academically, but emotionally and socially.
By recognising both the pressures young people face and the signs of healthy relationships – such as trust, respect, boundaries and kindness – and how unhealthy relationship behaviours might creep in – we can better support them to navigate this period.
Because while exams are temporary, the relationship skills young people develop during this time can last much longer.
To help prepare young people who will be sitting exams next year, you can book a ‘10 Signs’ workshop for your school or organisation here.