Contexts of Adolescent Worries: Impacts of Ethnicity, Gender, Family Structure and Socioeconomic Status.

Understanding the contexts of adolescents' worries can provide valuable information to improve the adolescent's well-being. This study compared the worries of Caucasian adolescents and minority adolescents (Native American, African American, Hispanic American, and Asian American). Over 2,300 high school volunteers participated. Student worries were measured by means of a list of 29 issues, including personal, family, peer, and personal. Results indicated that minority status and gender have effects on adolescents' worries. Minority adolescents were more likely to worry than white adolescents, and female adolescents were more likely to worry than males. The most frequently reported worries were grades, graduating from high school, relationships with parents, and looks. (Author/EV) ******************************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * ******************************************************************************** O O v4 41. Contexts of Adolescent Worries : Impacts of Ethnicity, Gender, Family Structure and Socioeconomic Status I. Joyce Chang' Grinstead 235, Department of Human Environmental Sciences, Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg Missouri 64093 ABSTRACT U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. This exploratory study intends to examine the contexts of adolescent's worry. Since worry symbolizes a person's mental status and life contexts, a better understanding of adolescents' worries will provide insights for researchers and practitioners. Understanding the contexts of adolescents' worries can provide valuable information to improve the adolescent's well-being. This study compared the worries of Caucasian adolescents and Minority adolescents (Native American, African American, Hispanic American and Asian American). 2,369 high school volunteers participated in this study. The results of this study indicated that minority status and gender have effects on adolescents' worries. Minority adolescents were more likely to worry than white adolescents and female adolescents were more likely to worry than their male counterpart. The most frequently reported worries are Grades, Graduating from high school, Relationships with parents and Looks. Implications for school, family and policy are also presented. 1 PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) I Paper presented at the annual conference of the National Council of Family Relations, Arlington, VA, November 1997. All correspondence should be addressed to: Dr. I. Joyce Chang, Department of Human Environmental Sciences, Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg, MO, 64093 Tel: 660-543-4932; Fax: 660 -5438295; e mail: chang@cmsul.cmsu. edu 2 BEST COPY AVAILABLE INTRODUCTION ADOLESCENCE: AN UNIQUE STAGE Due to the acquisition of advanced cognitive ability, adolescence is the first time that individuals are able to foresee, contemplate and worry. Abstract thinking, hypothetical thinking and better perspective taken are just three of the many exciting advanced cognitive abilities that adolescents acquire. Compared to adolescents, children are less likely to worry due to their cognitive limitations. Adolescents are able to think about the possible future, to engage in abstract thinking, to understand experience life in a broader contexts and to be more intra-perspective and inter-perspective. WHY DO WE WORRY ABOUT "WORRY"? Not all worries are harmful. For example, worry may cause anxiety, but anxiety may enhance performance. Worry involves advanced thinking about possibilities, adolescents that never worry may be at greater risk due to the view of invulnerability. On the other hand, worry is frequently the prelude of distress. Past research has found a positive relation between worry and other problems such as low self-esteem, depression and suicide. Worry represents the mental status and the life contexts of a person. For example, a person who worried about being abused, may be in danger of being abused. GOALS OF THIS STUDY This exploratory study intends to examine the contexts of adolescents worry. Since worry symbolize a person's mental status and life contexts, a better understanding