Journal of Depression and Anxiety
Open Access

Is there a relationship between role stress and existential stress in adolescents?

9^th International Conference on Stress, Mindfulness, Meditation and Resilience

November 10-11, 2022 | Webinar

Ajit Kaur

University of South Australia , South Australia, Australia

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Depress Anxiety

Abstract :

Stress in adolescents continues to escalate impacting on relationships (role stress) and purpose in life (existential stress). Yet, research into role stress and existential stress has primarily focused on adults contesting that they have wider social interactions and multiple role identities (Garossa et al., 2011). This view was challenged by the researchers who have either empirically or theoretically supported the view that adolescents are the first to be confronted with role stress (Fenzel, 1989; Liu & Kapan, 2004) and existential stress (Fitzgerald, 2005; Hacker, 1994), highlighting the need to explore this potential relationship in adolescence. Drawing on a larger mixed method study exploring adolescents’ experiences of role stress and/ or existential stress and the potential relationship these have with adolescents’ emotional intelligence and wellbeing, this presentation focuses on the possible relationship between role stress and existential stress in adolescence. Cross-sectional surveys including the Role Stress scale (Liu & Kaplan, 2004) and the Purpose in Life test-SF (Schulenberg et al., 2011) was conducted with 375 adolescents aged 13-19 years (years 8-12) in South Australia. Correlational analysis reported a significant positive association between role stress (feelings of dissatisfaction regarding interactions or relationships with their environment such as family, friends, peers, school, and teachers) and existential stress (lack of purpose or meaning in life) in adolescents. Such finding is consistent with the results of other similar studies. Current study contributes to literature using the existing scales with an Australian sample of adolescents and proposes a relational model that clarifies this relationship according to their context. Reducing potential stressors such as role stress and existential stress in adolescents will promote their healthy psychosocial development, thus creating productive and healthy societies.

Biography :

Ajit Kaur is born and brought up in Amritsar, a holy city of India. She has completed her Masters in Education and Masters in Economics from Guru Nanak Dev University, India, and expecting her PhD conferral next month from University of South Australia. She is the member of Centre for Research in Educational and Social Inclusion, South Australia, and published three papers in reputed journals and presented in two international conferences.