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A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents
Published on: July 10, 2017
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Adolescence, stress, and psychological well-being
1Applied Research Unit, Psychiatric Research Division (Saskatchewan Health), Cancer and Medical Research Building, University of Saskatchewan, S7N 0W0, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Journal of Youth and Adolescence
|December 6, 2013
Summary
Adolescent stress from family, school, and peers negatively impacts mental health, with family stress being most detrimental. Locus of control offers some protection, and significant sex differences exist in stress perception and distress levels.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Adolescent Health
- Mental Health Research
Background:
- Adolescence is a critical developmental period marked by significant psychosocial changes.
- Stress, particularly from family, school, and peer contexts, is a known risk factor for adolescent mental health issues.
- Understanding the interplay between stress, coping mechanisms like locus of control, and sex differences is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mental health consequences of perceived stress from family, school, and peer groups in adolescents.
- To examine the moderating role of locus of control orientation on stress-outcome relationships.
- To identify and analyze sex differences in stress perception and psychological well-being.
Main Methods:
- A quantitative study involving 1,038 adolescents (526 females, 512 males) from a Canadian prairie city.
- Assessment of perceived stress across family, school, and peer domains.
- Measurement of psychological well-being using anxiety, depression, social dysfunction, and anergia scales.
- Analysis of locus of control orientation and sex differences.
Main Results:
- All three sources of stress (family, school, peer) were significantly associated with negative mental health outcomes.
- Family stress demonstrated the strongest negative impact on adolescent psychological well-being.
- Locus of control provided a health-protective effect, primarily against school and peer stress.
- Significant sex differences were observed in the perception of family and peer stress, and in reported levels of psychological distress, with females reporting greater externality and distress.
Conclusions:
- Family-related stress poses the most significant threat to adolescent mental health.
- Locus of control is a valuable moderator, but its protective effect is context-dependent.
- Acknowledging and addressing sex-based differences in stress perception and coping is essential for promoting adolescent psychosocial development.
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