Multidimensionality of pressure in adolescence

At sixteen I was stupid, confused, insecure and indecisive. At twenty-

five I was wise, self-confident, prepossessing and assertive. At forty-five I am stupid, confused,

insecure and indecisive. Who would have supposed that maturity is only

a short break in adolescence?

STRESS AND STORM

POTENTIALS AND

CHALLENGES

PERIOD OF

OR

Webster dictionary, "adolescence is the period of life from puberty to maturity terminating legally at the age of majority”

World Health Organization, “Adolescence is the period between 10 and 19 years”

Piaget describes adolescence as the stage of life in which the individual's thoughts start taking more of an abstract form and the egocentric thoughts decrease

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Piaget

Adolescence is characterized by considerable physical, emotional and social changes

Adolescence is an important period in

the growth and development of an

individual

MAJOR CONCERNS OF ADOLESCENT STUDENTS

DEVELOPING AN IDENTITY MANAGING

EMOTIONS

RESISTING PEER PRESSURE

BUILDING

RELATION

TUTORIAL GROUP NO. 10

• TO KNOW THE PERSPECTIVES OF THE ADOLESCENTS, PRINCIPALS,TEACHERS AND PARENTS

• FOR GOING DEEPER INTO THE ACTUAL LIFE SITUATIONS FACED BY AN ADOLESCENT AND THEIR IMPACT

• FOR TESTING AND FURTHER IMPROVEMENT OF THE TOOLS OF THE STUDY

• FOR IDENTIFICATION OF MAJOR PRESSURES FACED BY THE ADOLESCENTS

PRELIMI-NARY STUDY

PILOT STUDY

ADMINIST-RATION OF

THE TOOLS

CASE STUDY

A Preliminary study was conducted to identify the major pressures faced by the adolescents today. This was done with total sample( 100: Government school; 100: Private school)

Major observations are….

27%

15%

48%

4%1%

5%

19% 21%

49%

6%2% 3%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Peer pressure Parentalpressure

Academicpressure

Family conflicts Any other No answer

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE

GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ADOLESCENCE

PEER PRESSURE

ACADEMIC PRESSURE

PARENTAL PRESSURE

Adolescents feel pressurized

because of their parent’s desire to choose a stream of their choice

Adolescents face peer pressure to

go with their friends in their

desired streams

Schools put a lot of pressure on students to score good marks, if they want to choose their desired stream

There is conflict of interest

between parents, peers and

adolescents

Adolescent age is considered to be a

crucial stage where appropriate

decisions need to be taken regarding

future career prospects, thus

pressurizing students

Teachers pressurize

adolescents to score well and

participate in all scholastic and co-

scholastic activities

OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS

A mentally or emotionally disruptive or upsetting condition occurring in

response to adverse external influences

Peer pressure is the influence of a social group on an individual.

Teenagers feel social pressure to conform to the group of peers with

whom they socialize

Parental support and pressure and children's extracurricular activities: relationships with amount of involvement and

effective experience of participation

Pressure faced by students exerted by scholastic and co-

scholastic activities in the school

To identify various pressures faced by the school going adolescents

To explore the possible impact of such pressures on student’s performance in(a)Academic(b)Co-curricular activities

To study the changes in an adolescent’s behavior towards(a) Parents(b) Peers

A study was conducted on adolescents' academic outcomes through improvements in parental

relationships. The results showed in addition to improvements in parental relationships,

mentoring led to reductions in unexcused absences and improvements in perceived

scholastic competence

A study was conducted on adolescents' academic outcomes through improvements in parental relationships. The results showed in addition to

Adolescents' academic outcomes through improvements in

parental relationships ( Jean E. Rhodes, Jean B. Grossman,

Nancy L. Resch) 1988

By a ratio of nearly four-to-one, adults in America, the parents are placing too little (56%) rather than too much (15%) pressure on students, with the remaining quarter (24%) saying that parents are exerting the right amount of pressure. Whereas when the same question was posed in Asia, the results were the mirror image of those found in the United States.( Asia includes Indiachina, japan)

Parental Pressure on Students: Not Enough in America: ; Too Much

in Asia (RichardWike and Juliana Menasce Horowitz) 1994

For academic pressure it is seen that the anxiety attacks during the time of exam results are very high and hence helplines are set to offer help to

stressed-out parents and students.Figures revealed that during times like these, suicidal tendencies run

high among students

Parental pressure can result in suicides by(ArunimaRajan) 2003

This review is concerned with the meaning and the processes of peer pressure in relation to smoking behaviour amongst pre-adolescent and adolescent pupils. Results suggest that individuals play a more active role in starting to smoke and that social process other than peer pressure need to be taken into account

May 30, 1995.Peer pressure to smoke: the meaning depends on the method

L. Michell and P. West

To measure peer conformity dispositions (willingness to accede to peer pressure), perceptions of peer pressure, and self-reported frequency of behaviour concerning two major

aspects of teenage life: peer involvement (degree of socializing with friends) and misconduct (drug/alcohol use,

sexual intercourse, and minor delinquent behaviour. Perceived peer pressure and conformity disposition accounted for more of the variance in self-reported misconduct than in self-reported peer involvement

22 March 1985 Perceptions of Peer Pressure, Peer Conformity

Dispositions, and Self-Reported Behavior Among Adolescents

(Bradford Browna, , Donna Rae Clasenb and Sue Ann Eichera)

A study was conducted on school-based alcohol misuse prevention. The indices measuring susceptibility to peer

pressure, self-esteem, and internal health locus of control were significantly and negatively correlated with most of the substance use, misuse, and intention items, and an external health locus of control index was not significantly related to most of the substance use, misuse, and intention items. The

"Susceptibility to Peer Pressure" index correlated more highly with the adolescent substance use, misuse, and intention items than the self-esteem or the health locus of control

indices, and it had the highest alpha coefficient

Susceptibility to Peer Pressure, Self-Esteem, and Health Locus of Control

as Correlates of Adolescent Substance Abuse

(T.E. Dielman) 1990

This study examines the nature of peer pressures perceived by

early adolescents, the degree and direction of peer pressures

they perceived from friends and acquaintances, and to describe

their personal attitudes and behaviour in areas corresponding

to index items. Analyses revealed that peers were seen as

encouraging misconduct less than other types of behavior.

Females reported stronger peer pressure than males toward

conformity (to peer norms) and social involvement, but the

genders did not differ in perceptions of misconduct or pro-

adult pressures. Associations between perceived pressures and

personal attitudes or behavior were significant but modest, and

sometimes were mediated by gender or grade level

Early Adolescents' Perceptions of Peer Pressure

B. Bradford Brown(1988)

METHODOLOGY

CENTRAL

NCR

WEST EAST

SOUTH

LOCALE

CONVENIENT SAMPLING

ADOLESCENTS BETWEEN 13 TO 17 YEARS OF AGE HAS

BEEN CHOSEN

Studying in government schools (n=100)

Studying in public schools (n=100)

OPINION ON PROBLEMS RELATED

TO ADOLESCENT PERIOD

Parents

(n=20)

Teachers(n=20)

Principals

(n=5)

FACING PROBLEMS RELATED TO PEER

PRESSURE AND FAMILY CONFLICTS

IN HIS ADOLESCENT PERIOD

A case is identified in

east Delhi (n=1)

TO

OL

S

QUESTIONNAIRES

INTERVIEW SCHEDULES

CASE STUDY

PILOT STUDY

20% OF THE TOTAL SAMPLE

SIZE(200) i.e. 40

REFRAMED

DELETED

ADDED NEW QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS WERE

SITUATION BASED QUESTIONS.QUESTIONS TO BRING OUT THE CHANGE

IN BEHAVIOR IN SOME SITUATIONS.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

QUALITATIVE QUANTITATIVE

PERCENTAGES

ANALYSIS

ADOLESCENTS’ PERSPECTIVE

44%

27% 29%

1%

67%

26%

13%

0%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Always Sometimes Rarely Never

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE

RESPONSEGOVERNMENT SCHOOLS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

46% 45%

1%8%

20%

49%

21%

10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%


PE

RC

EN

TA

GE


11%

31%

15%

37%

5%0% 0%

20% 22%

9%4% 4% 6% 3%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Restraintelevision

viewing hours

Force you tostudy

Noextracurricular

activities

Make sure youstudy by sitting

in your room

Take off fromoffice duringyour exams

None of theabove

Any other

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE


58%

18%

9%15%

0%

16%

35%

14%

34%

10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Always Sometimes Rarely Never No answer

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE


27%

47%

9%

17%

0%

30%36%

13% 13%

3%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%


PE

RC

EN

TA

GE


17%

40%35%

8%

0%

17%

57%

19% 20%

7%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%


PE

RC

EN

TA

GE


42% 44%

7% 7%

0%

30%34%

19%13%

8%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%


PE

RC

EN

TA

GE

RESPONSE GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

57%

23%

6%

14%

50%

30%

4%

15%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%


PE

RC

EN

TA

GE


27%

11%16%

3% 5%

38%

0% 0%

13% 13%

30%

3%0%

24%

4%7%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Pretend youare studying

Keep booksopen all the

time

Devotemaximun time

on studies

Behaveaggressively

Start crying &feel frustrated

Feel no oneunderstands

you

Leave thehome

None of theabove

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE


72%

11% 12%5%

0% 0%

48%

10%17%

11% 12%

2%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Comparison ofperformance

Scolding &insulting in

front of others

Forcing tostudy for long

hours

Imposingrestrictions

None of theabove

Any other

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE


Comparison with friends & relatives, 60%

T.V., Social networking

sites, 65.50%

Studies, Score Well,

33%Selection of friends, Time

spent at home, 17.50%

Family supports in studies,

55.50%

Scolding & Insulting, 42.50%

Spend time with Family , 77%

Comparison with friends& relatives

T.V., Social networkingsites

Studies, Score Well

Selection of friends, Timespent at home

Family supports instudies

Scolding & Insulting

Spend time with Family

7%

32%

61%

20%

35%

45%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Join birthday party Remain at home Because of parent's respectattend whole party

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE


7%

51%

3%8%

31%

0% 0%

8%

18%

38%

3% 4% 4%

25%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Easilyavailable at

home

Friend's werehaving at a

party

Curiosityabout its

taste

Make youlook cool &

you canboast it

Feelingstressed out& felt it a way

out

No answer # Never do it

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE


39%

10% 10%

23%18%

0%

10%

29%

18%

41%

0% 1%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Devote much lessertime than before

Involveboyfriend/girlfriend

in peer group

Avoid peer group None of the above Any other No answer

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE


Hobby classes, 24%

Chatting on Social Networking sites

& cellphones, 35%

Going out with friends,

17%

Influence to secure low marks,

18.50%

Substance abuse, 30.50%

Peer Pressure in general, 23%

Hobby classes

Chatting on SocialNetworking sites &cellphones

Going out with friends

Influence to secure lowmarks

Substance abuse

Peer Pressure in general

78%

22%

62%

40%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Yes No

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE

RESPONSE


14% 16%

48%

0% 0% 0%

19%23%

9%2% 3%

10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

1 Subject 2 Subjects 3 Subjects 4 Subjects 5 Subjects No answer

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE

SUBJECTSGOVERNMENT SCHOOLS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

25%

9% 6%

52%

8%

0% 0%

16%11%

25%

37%

16%

1% 1%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Unable to bearthe burden

Feel depressed Angry/frustrated Feel likerunning away

Feel likespending time

with friends

No answer Prefer studying

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE


13%

75%

12%

0%

25%

68%

6%1%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Devote time on studies Perform duties at annualday & then start with

studies

Feel stressed out & avoidboth

No answer

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE


Tuitions. 70%

School duties/responsibilities & examination.

14.00%

Test at coaching center & school.

64.50%

Lots of home-work.

7% Extreme workload. 48.50%

Co-curricular activities. 5%

Tuitions

Schoolduties/responsibilities &examinationTest at coaching center& school

Lots of home-work

Extreme workload

PARENTS’ PERSPECTIVE

5%

30%

10%

20% 20%

5% 5% 5%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Naughty Stays awayfrom family

Capable ofdoing

everything

Moody Findfriendsmore

supportive

Attached tomother

Quiet Shifts awayfrom

studies

RESPONSE

Series1

60%

25%

15%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Yes No Sometimes

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE

RESPONSE

Series1

25%20%

5%

20% 20%

10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE

RESPONSE

Series1

5%

20%15%

35%

20%

5%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE

RESPONSE

Series1

15%20%

15%

5%10%

25%

10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Almost daily Occasionally When instress

Many timesfrom parent's

side

Hardly talks According tothe situation

Rarely

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE

RESPONSE

Series1

60%

15%

25%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

P.T.A. Once a month Whenever called

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE

RESPONSE

Series1

15%

25%

10%15%

35%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Not found anysuch thing

Strict action No answer Upset Informallycounsel the child

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE

RESPONSE

Series1

80%

20%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Yes No

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE

RESPONSE

Series1

35%

25%

10% 10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Help them to makesound decisions

Very important Peer educators No answer

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE

RESPONSE

Series1

5%

15%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Students should themselves understand Complicated stage to understand

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE

RESPONSE

Series1

TEACHERS’ PERSPECTIVE

25%

10% 10%

30%25%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Good values &habits

Provide love &care

Full freedom Understand theirproblems

Impart life skills

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE

RESPONSE

Series1

25%

35%

15%10% 10%

5%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Workload Peer pressure Lack of interestin studies

Do not listen Understandingrelationships

No answer

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE

RESPONSE

Series1

25%

15%

40%

20%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Academicperformance

Participation in CCA Disturbed state ofmind

Substance abuse

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE

RESPONSE

Series1

20%25%

30%25%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Peer pressure Challenges inlife/Stress

Careerexpectations

Conflict withFamily/Friends

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE

RESPONSE

Series1

35%

65%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Yes No

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE

RESPONSE

Series1

10%15%

10%

0%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Question Box Directly Class teacher Parents

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE

RESPONSE

Series1

25%

35%

5%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Class teacher Friends Any other (teacher)

PE

RC

EN

TA

GE

RESPONSE

Series1

PRINCIPAL’S PERSPECTIVE

Once in a month

40%Once in 6 months

40%

Never20%

Student counselor

Regular Workshops in schools

Crucial role of teachers

Active Role of parents

CASE STUDY

PROFILE

NAME : VARUN KHURANA

AGE : 16 YEARS

CLASS : 11 th

INTERVIEW

SUBJECT

PARENTS

INTERACTION

(INFORMAL)

SUBJECT

CLOSE RELATIVES

LACK OF PARENTAL SUPPORT

FREQUENTLY DROPPING OUT FROM SCHOOL

PEER INFLUENCE

SUBSTANCE ABUSE FOR LAST ONE YEAR

NO ONE UNDERSTANDS HIM

LACK OF MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN HIM AND HIS PARENTS

NO REGRETS

NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR VARUN’S SITUATION

BLAMES THE FRIEND CIRCLE FOR VARUN’S CURRENT STATE

CHANGING VARUN’S SCHOOL WAS A WRONG DECISION

STAYING WITH HIS MATERNAL AUNT

DROPPED OUT FROM SCHOOL

TRYING TO DRIFT AWAY SUBSTANCE ABUSE

CONCLUSIONS FROM THE STUDY

PARENTAL PRESSURE ON ADOLESCENTS

To study hard

To score well in exams

Because of the objections on activities like t.v. ,social networking sites, phone calls etc

Because of the objections on spending time with friends

Because of the comparison of performance with classmates and relatives

Substance abuse

For Relationships

Pressure for other activities(partying, night outs…)

Image consciousness

Peer approval

For Bunking classes

PEER PRESSURE

ACADEMIC PRESSURE

Family conflicts

Poor teaching by some of the teachers in the school

Dis-interest in subjects

Friends’ influence

No support from the family in studies

Majority of the Government school

adolescents feel parental pressure for

studies.

They are also stressed due to

the poor teaching facilities in their

schools. Majority of them take

tuitions in more than two subjects

Peer pressure is comparatively

lesser in the Government

school adolescents

The extent of peer pressure is much higher

in the Public school adolescents

They may choose their friends over their parents in some situations

like attending birthday parties

etc.

They feel the academic pressure

but lesser percentage of them resort to

tuitions

Majority of the adolescents feel angry and frustrated due to

the restrictions imposed on them by the parents

Majority of them share their

feelings and concerns with

their friends and some teachers

rather than their parents

• Notice significant changes in their adolescent’s behavior and activities

• Feel restrictions are important

• Majority agreed to the importance of ‘Adolescence Education’ in school.

PARENTS

• Showed concerns over peer pressure and academic pressure on adolescents

• Admitted that about 40-50% adolescents are affected in academics and co-curricular activities due to family conflicts

TEACHERS

SAMPLING

Limited to Delhi only

Sample size is

limited(200)

Age group of the

respondents is limited(13

to 17)

METHODOLOGY

Single tool used for all the

adolescents (Questionnaire)

Single tool used for parents,

principals and teachers

(Interview Schedule)

Gender differences

could not be taken as a possible

dimension of the study

A need for sensitization of adolescents as well as the society at large about this crucial period of human life

The parents also need to understand their role in bringing up their child to be balanced and a mature person

The role of teachers is no less in the effective development of an adolescent

REGULAR WORKSHOPS AND

PROBLEM SHARING

SESSIONS WITH THE

ADOLESCENTS

PARALLEL WORKSHOPS FOR

PARENTS AND THEIR

ADOLESCENT CHILDREN TO

HAVE A COMMON PERSPECTIVE

TRAINING OF TEACHERS IN

UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS OF ADOLESCENTS

IMPARTING LIFE-SKILLS

EDUCATION TO MAKE THEM SELF-

SUFFICIENT

REGULAR SESSIONS FOR

YOGA,MEDITATIONAND CREATIVE

ACTIVITIES

DUE TO THE ACTIVE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY IN OUR LIFE TODAY, E-COUNSELLING

FACILITIES SHOULD BE

PROVIDED AT A LARGE SCALE

COLLABORATIONBETWEEN

SCHOOLS,NGOs AND PRIVATE

PRACTITIONERS

ADOLESCENCE EDUCATION SHOULD BE

MANDATORY, AT LEAST AT

SCHOOL LEVEL

QUALIFIED COUNSELLORS IN

EVERY PRIVATE AND

GOVERNMENT SCHOOL

Brown, B. Bradford, Lohr, Mary Jane, McClenahan, Eben L. Early

(1992):Adolescents' Perceptions of Peer Pressure

Browna,Bradford , Clasenb, Donna Rae,Eichera, Sue Ann (1985) :Perceptions of Peer Pressure,

Peer Conformity Dispositions, and Self-Reported Behavior Among Adolescents

Dielman, T.E., .Campanelli, Pamela C., Shope, Jean T.,ButchartAmy T.,Susceptibility (1980) : Peer

Pressure, Self-Esteem, and Health Locus of Control as Correlates of Adolescent Substance Abuse

Hansen , William B., Graham , John W.( 1990) :Preventing alcohol, marijuana, and cigarette use among adolescents:

Peer pressure resistance training versus establishing conservative norms

Rajan (1988) ,Arunima Parental pressure can result in suicides

Michell , L., West, P (1995) Peer pressure to smoke: the meaning depends on the method

Journal Of Youth And Adolescence. DOI: 10.1023/A:1005152515264 Vol.29 (163-182)

Dhingra, Meera (1850) Peer acceptance among adolescent boys & girls

Wike,Richard, Horowitz, Juliana Menasce(2006) Parental Pressure on Students: Not Enough in America; Too Much in Asia

http://psychology.about.com/od/psychologywriting/a/casestudy.htm

•Rajan ,Arunima Parental pressure can result in suicides

ADITI SHAHKRISHNA

BHARDWAJMANSI

BHATNAGARNEHA

NAMRATA

SHALU VERMA

PREETI GUSAIN

VARTIKA GOVIL

SHRUTI JOSHI

PRAGYA

VANDANA SACHDEV

SWATI VERMA

NEHA SURI