Parents were "stressing out" students with their "help". A study of Leaving Cert students has cast light on what they actually need from their parents at this stressful time.

Marie Murray's study of 60 Leaving Cert students found that there were four major issues students were concerned about: communication with parents; stress and pressure; social life and money.

The majority of students lacked an effective channel of communication with their parents. They say their parents as well-intentioned, yet conversations about the Leaving Cert were unsupportive and usually ended in conflict. Only one in 20 students said that their parents support them fully and understood them totally. Most of the time, parents were "stressing out" students with their "help". What parents believe to be supportive, is perceived by students as being additional pressure.

Here's a guide for parents who want to improve the situation:

• Understand that social life is a way of coping with pressure. Students need a social life and need to keep in contact by texting their friends or phoning on a landline.

• Students need a realistic amount of money to meet day-to-day expenses. Under economic pressure, students get jobs yet working is a barrier to studying for the Leaving Cert.

• Disappointing parents is a major fear for Leaving Cert students. Students can see their parents' disappointment, even when parents try to hide it.

• If parents place too much trust in a student's ability, the student finds this stressful. In fact, high expectations from parents are as stressful as low expectations and poor trust. Parents should be realistic and trust their students to do their best, rather than focusing on results.

• Students need praise and encouragement. Many feel that parents don't even notice how hard they are studying.

• False reassurances such as "it'll be fine" wear thin with students, who see this as negating their genuine worries.

• A quiet, well-organised home, a warm welcome and a hot meal go a long way to making students feel secure and well able to cope with stress.