"Stress and Storm" In Adolescence: A Comparative Study

Studies conducted with Western adolescent populations have shown a high incidence of reckless and problematic behaviour. The present work aimed to investigate the prevalence of so called "stress and storm", typically associated with this age group, in Pakistani adolescent boys. Apart from a group of adolescents (students of Matric), two other groups (B.A. & M.A. students) were also included in the study for comparison. The study was also conceived to compare the three groups on depressive affect. The target behaviour was assessed through two means: self-report measures and teachers' assessment. The results did not reveal significant differences between the three groups on self­ reports, measuring problematic behavior and depression. However, the students of Matric were rated as being more irresponsible, rude, and emotionally disturbed by their teachers. It is concluded that adolescence may be a period of stress but the extent described and found in Western societies is not observable in traditional oriental cultures.