Stress and health in adolescents:The role of potential protective factors
Year: 2011
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Adolescence is a developmental period characterized by multiple changes in virtually every aspect of an individual’s life, calling for new psychological adaptations. Exposure to different stressors caused by these changes represents a central and normal part of the process of growth and development during adolescence. However, experience of cumulative and simultaneous negative stressors remains central as a potential threat to the well-being and healthy development during adolescence. Meanwhile, when faced with identical stressors, the stress process and the health outcomes of stress vary individually; the outcome depends on the role of different vulnerabilities and protective factors, in the individual as well as in the environment.\n\nThe present thesis comprises an investigation of the role and nature of adolescent stressors and the association between stress and different health outcomes (emotional states, selfesteem and subjective health complaints). Gender and age differences on stress and the health outcome variables are also assessed. The thesis further considers the role of three potential protective factors with importance for stress and coping processes, as well as for health and well-being during adolescence; leisure time physical activity, self-esteem and sense of coherence (SOC). The factor structure and psychometric properties of the Norwegian version of the Adolescent Stress Questionnaire (ASQ-N), a questionnaire assessing stressors common in adolescence, are also investigated. The thesis is based on three cross-sectional samples of Norwegian adolescents 13-18 years, attending public elementary and secondary schools in rural and urban areas in the two counties of the middle part of Norway\n\nThe findings support a reliable and valid nine-factor structure of the ASQ-N. Moreover, girls seem to report higher levels of stress, more emotional symptoms and subjective health complaints than boys, especially in the age group 15-16 years. Conversely boys score higher on self-esteem. Both total sum stress and domain specific stress, especially in interpersonal contexts, is related to more emotional problems, lower self-esteem and more subjective health complaints in both boys and girls. The thesis has also revealed the positive role of leisure time physical activity, sense of coherence and self-esteem, controlled for experience of stress, in association with adolescents’ health outcomes. Methodological, theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed.
Author: Unni Karin Moksnes
Language: English
Topic: Student Stress and Coping
Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W12616515