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What stresses adolescents? A qualitative study on perceptions of stress, stressors and coping mechanisms among urban adolescents in India
- Source :
- Wellcome Open Research
- Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Background: In India, stress levels are increasing steadily among youth. We aimed to explore the factors that contribute to psychological stress and coping strategies among adolescents in Mysore, India to inform the development of an intervention. Methods: We recruited 16 volunteers in Mysore, India including 6 younger (12-15 years; 3 girls) and 10 older adolescents/ young adults (17-25 years; 5 girls) using a purposive sampling technique. Older adolescents were recruited from ongoing birth cohort study, and the younger adolescents by word-of-mouth from the community. Individual in-depth interviews were carried out based on a semi-structured interview guide comprising open-ended questions. The interviews were analysed to derive themes and emerging constructs related to stress and coping strategies. Results: Adolescents generally perceived stress in their daily lives. Family conflicts and academic pressures were the main triggers for increased stress. Issues around peer relationships, and social position were also important contributors. Adolescents reported that they had robust coping strategies. These included stress release through rationalising and acceptance of the situation, distraction activities, spirituality, and self-comforting methods. However, they felt the need for further support from their family, and the society in general. In particular they expressed the need for a space to share their concerns and obtain guidance through healthy discussions with adults. Conclusions: Our study indicates that adolescents in India are exposed to a wide range of stressors in their daily lives. The conflict between ‘traditional’ society’s opinions of what adolescents should do and the new age adolescents’ aspirations for autonomy to find ‘informed’ solutions for their issues may hinder the stress management efforts. Moving forward, we propose to develop a culturally acceptable intervention tool that accommodates adolescents’ perspectives and psychosocial context.
- Subjects :
- academic pressure
qualitative research
Coping (psychology)
Stress management
Stressor
Medicine (miscellaneous)
India
Context (language use)
Articles
Adolescents
General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
Developmental psychology
Nonprobability sampling
coping
03 medical and health sciences
stress
0302 clinical medicine
Intervention (counseling)
030212 general & internal medicine
Psychology
family conflict
Psychosocial
030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Qualitative research
Research Article
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 2398502X
- Volume :
- 6
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Wellcome open research
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....d6b1224aafd9a587e721fdc1f39dfd18