A Sociopsychological Study on The Sources of Stress Among Adolescents in Developing Countries

Institution of Education, University College London, London, WC1E 6AE, United Kingdom

^* Corresponding author: xiaochang.liu.22@ucl.ac.uk

Abstract

Compared with adolescents in developed countries, adolescents in developing countries face more significant and specific pressures, negatively impacting their mental health. Given that nearly 90% of the 1.2 billion young people around the world live in developing countries, it is crucial for researchers to understand the sources of these pressures. This article applies relevant theories and research methods of social psychology to explore the social, cultural, economic, and developmental pressures faced by adolescents in developing countries. Research has shown that poverty, family obligations, educational competition, lack of autonomy, and constantly changing social norms are the primary sources of stress for adolescents in developing countries, significantly affecting their mental health. The social pressure theory, self-determination theory, and cultural adaptation framework provide valuable perspectives for conceptualizing the behavioral and ideological characteristics of adolescents. Based on the previous study, this article will aim to discuss and evaluate the sources providing stress to teenagers in developing countries to help cultivate a healthy next generation.