The objectives of this study are to understand the state of adolescent stress in current society and examine the effect of positive self-concept and self-confidence on adolescent stress. This study also aims to present possible solutions for the field...
The objectives of this study are to understand the state of adolescent stress in current society and examine the effect of positive self-concept and self-confidence on adolescent stress. This study also aims to present possible solutions for the field of social welfare, for not only improving the external environmental factors, but also strengthening positive self-concept and self-confidence in adolescents to enable proactive management of stress.
This study analyzes data from the fourth wave of the Korean Youth Panel Survey on 4^(th)grade elementary students beginning in 2004, for a total of 2077 students in their first year of junior high school in 2007. The independent variables consist of general demographics, parental factors, school-related factors, and self-image factors, and the dependent variable is stress consisting of five subordinate factors - stress related to academics, stress related to friends, stress related to parents, stress related to physical appearance, and stress related to material possessions. To explore general demographic characteristics of the subjects, frequency analysis was conducted, and an independent samples t-test was performed to assess socio-demographic differences regarding stress. Moreover, a correlation analysis was conducted to examine the existence and strength of relationships among the variables included in the regression model. Lastly, a hierarchical multiple regression was performed to analyze the effect of adolescent self-concept and self-confidence on stress and phasing in demographics, parental factors, school-related factors, and self-image as additional explanatory variables.
For research question 1, descriptive analysis was conducted on stress factors and revealed that the average level of stress is 2.39(±.71), which is at about the middle of the 5-point scale measurement (48^(th)percentile). The subordinate factors of stress were experienced to various degrees by adolescents, with highest amount of stress experienced in relation ted chool at 2.94(±1.01), followed by parent related stress at 2.61(±.96), physical appearance related stress at 2.27(±.97), material possessions related stress at 2.19(±1.02), and friends related stress at 1.84(±.83).
For research question 2, stress level differences by demographic characteristics were assessed. Females were shown to experience a statistically higher level of stress than males. On the other hand, no significant differences resulted from analyses of lower- and higher-than-average household incomes and lower- and higher-than-average allowances.
For research question 3, the effect of self-image factors (positive self-concept and self-confidence) on stress was analyzed. Among the variables included in the regression model, stress was higher in females than males and increased with more abuse experienced, with less attachment to friends, and with less attachment to teachers. Moreover, analysis of the key independent variables of self-image revealed an inverse statistical relationship between positive self-concept and stress, and self-confidence and stress.
The practical implications of this study are as follows. First, since female students experienced higher amount of stress compared to male students, differentiated stress mediation strategies are required to a greater degree for females when resources are limited.
Second, as domestic abuse between parents or against their children increased stress, social services concerning adolescents require a family-level intervention. To cause less stress in adolescents, emotional development through an appropriate level of bonding within the family should be encouraged, and a family atmosphere in which the adolescents are treated with greater respect needs to be created.
Third, analysis on school-related factors showed that lower attachment to friends and teachers increased stress; positive relationships among peers and with teachers help improve adjustment to school and levels of stress. Hence, group programs emphasizing peer support or developing emotional support between teachers and students may be effective in social services targeting adolescents.
Lastly, analysis of the factors relating to self-image, an internal supporting resource, confirmed that stress decreased with increasing positive self-concept and self-confidence. Therefore, to prevent problems related with adolescent stress, solutions that strengthen self-image must be considered. Through cooperation with mental health or counseling centers, schools may create programs promoting positive self-image, and the government should consider providing the necessary institutional support and human resources, such as school social workers.
Despite some limitations, this study makes significant contributions to social work literature, in that it demonstrates the relationship between positive self-concept, self-confidence and the prevention of adolescent stress, through using a representative national panel data that overcomes limitations commonly associated with small scale regional data.