Biography:

Ajit Kaur 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, University of South Australia, and published three papers in reputed journals and presented in two international conferences

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). Some challenge this view arguing 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 stressors have with their emotional intelligence and wellbeing, this presentation shares participants lived experiences of role stress and existential stress. Employing the Role Stress scale (Liu & Kaplan, 2004) and the Purpose in Life test-SF (Schulenberg et al., 2011), 375 adolescents aged 13-19 years (years 8-12) in South Australia reported some experiences of  role stress and/or existential stress. For some, a significant positive relationship emerged between these stressors. These findings highlight the need to further explore adolescent role and existential stress to promote healthy psychosocial development, wellbeing and mental health, thus creating productive and healthy societies.