Development and standardization of adolescence stress scale and indentifying psychosocial factors contributing to adolescnece stress

Abstract

ABSTRACT newlineStress is defined as a negative emotional condition accompanied by biochemical and newlinephysiological changes in the body, preceded by a cognitive appraisal where the individual newlineperceives the demands on self, exceeding the resources followed by a behavioral initiative to newlinechange the situation or adapt to it. Adolescence is a critical phase of life with rapid newlinephysiological hormonal changes making them vulnerable to environmental stimuli. newlineConfronting a range of stressors at this phase of life can lead to detrimental physical and newlinemental health consequences without proper resources available to them. After a thorough newlineliterature review it was definite that there is a huge gap in stress measurement for Indian newlineadolescents. Further review of literature related to psychosocial factors contributing to stress newlinein adolescents revealed that each of them had a unique relation to stress. The previous studies newlinestated that these psychosocial factors are interrelated and are found to have an influence on newlineone another causing the individual differences in one s stress perception and reaction. The newlinemajor objective of the study was to develop Adolescence Stress Scale with defined factor newlinestructure and adequate psychometric properties. This study also aimed to investigate if there newlineare any differences in stress levels of adolescents of different gender, class and age group and newlineto identify the psychosocial factors contributing to stress in adolescence. The stress newlineexperiences and coping strategies of adolescents with high and low stress levels were also newlineexplored in current study. To accomplish these objectives this study was carried out in four newlinephases and explanatory sequential mixed method approach was adapted. In first phase newlinestressors from 2241 children (5 to 21 years) were identified through survey design and put newlinethrough content validity. After retaining the appropriate stressors, a 56 items scale evolved newlinefor the adolescent age group (11 to 18 years). This scale was taken forward for further newlinestandardization process in next phase