Fatigue in High School Students in the Classroom: Contributing Factors in the Ecuadorian Context
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Abstract
Fatigue among high school students represents a growing issue that affects both academic performance and overall well-being. This article presents a critical review of the literature on the main factors influencing student fatigue within the classroom, with a particular focus on the Ecuadorian context.
Key causes identified include inadequate sleep patterns, physical and mental health problems (such as poor nutrition, sedentary lifestyles, stress, anxiety, and depression), as well as academic factors like cognitive overload, unengaging teaching methods, and school schedules misaligned with adolescents’ biological rhythms.
Additionally, environmental conditions (lighting, ventilation, noise, ergonomics) and social factors (classroom emotional climate, interpersonal relationships, bullying) are highlighted as aggravating elements that increase the sense of exhaustion. The reviewed evidence shows how these factors interact synergistically, intensifying their negative effects. The article concludes that mitigating fatigue requires comprehensive interventions that simultaneously address sleep hygiene, pedagogical design, the physical environment, and psycho-emotional support, in order to promote a healthier and more conducive educational environment for learning.
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Daniel Alberto Olalla-Chávez, Ministerio de Educación - Ecuador
https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2068-9304
MSc. in Teaching English as a Foreign Language, educator with experience in applying technology to education. Currently researching the integration of artificial intelligence in teaching and learning processes, with a focus on automated feedback and improving student concentration.
Javier Armando Aguirre-Zambrano, Ministerio de Educación - Ecuador
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5582-3775
Mathematics teacher at the CEPE Educational Unit in Puerto Quito, Ecuador. He holds a Master's degree in high school education with a focus on mathematics and a Bachelor's degree in educational sciences with a focus on computer science
Ana Belén Chávez-Reyes, Ministerio de Educación - Ecuador
https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3873-8551
Master's degree in Technology and Educational Innovation, multi-grade teacher for 4 years, and elementary teacher for 10 years, currently working at the "CEPE" Educational Unit.
Genaro Orrico-Zalazar, Ministerio de Educación - Ecuador
https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1730-2280
Master's degree in educational technology and digital skills. I am a teacher with experience using digital instruments and using physics principles, as this is the subject I teach full-time at the CEPE educational unit.
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