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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
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A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents
Published on: July 10, 2017
Perceived stress, coping, and adjustment in adolescents
Petra Hampel1, Franz Petermann
1Center of Clinical Psychology and Rehabilitation, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany. petra@uni-bremen.de
Summary
Adolescent girls experience more interpersonal stress and use more social support than boys. Effective coping strategies are crucial for psychological adjustment in both genders, especially for females.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Adolescent Psychology
- Stress and Coping Research
Background:
- Interpersonal stress significantly impacts adolescent psychological adjustment.
- Understanding age and gender differences in stress perception and coping is vital for targeted interventions.
- Previous research indicates varying coping mechanisms across developmental stages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine age and gender influences on perceived interpersonal stress, coping strategies, and psychological adjustment in early and middle adolescence.
- To investigate the relationship between perceived stress, coping mechanisms, and psychological adjustment.
- To identify gender-specific patterns in stress, coping, and adjustment.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 286 Austrian adolescents (ages 10-14, grades 5-7) completed self-report measures.
- Data collected on perceived interpersonal stress, coping strategies (adaptive and maladaptive), and psychological adjustment (emotional and behavioral problems).
- Statistical analyses were performed to assess age, gender, stress, coping, and adjustment associations.
Main Results:
- Fifth graders reported more adaptive coping and fewer externalizing problems than older students.
- Girls perceived higher interpersonal stress, used more social support, and exhibited more maladaptive coping and emotional distress than boys.
- Problem-focused and emotion-focused coping were linked to better adjustment, while perceived stress and maladaptive coping correlated with adjustment problems, particularly in girls.
Conclusions:
- Multidimensional coping patterns are essential for adolescent psychological well-being.
- Primary prevention programs targeting coping skills in late childhood are recommended.
- Interventions should consider gender-specific needs in managing interpersonal stress and promoting adjustment.
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