Purpose of the Study
The article discourses the prevalence of PTSD in adolescents. It is a common problem among this age group, especially in recent years characterized by digitalization. Adolescents need to understand stress, its causes, its effects, and the coping mechanisms of managing stress. Prevention is better than cure. The article provides vast information concerning PTSDs that benefit individuals and society (Fincham et al., 2009). It helps to minimize cases of depression that cause suicides accounting for the deaths of many young people. The research has critically analyzed PTSD concerning previous research work from similar topics and the data and information from a case study group, providing valuable guidelines on PTSD management.
Logical Consistency
Most adolescents are in intimate relationships which require commitments at a very early age when they are not yet fully mature. It leads to misunderstandings in relationships where they face stressful episodes leading to depression since it is difficult to talk openly about such issues. Additionally, peer pressure also interferes with the decision-making processes of adolescents, where they may end up making choices that will affect their entire life (Fincham et al., 2009). Upon realizing their mistakes, adolescents regret some of their decisions, resulting in continuous stressful experiences. Despite the awareness of some adolescents, finding themselves in situations that put them in conflicting dilemmas is common. The logical consistency of the article follows specific criteria in explaining the causes of PTSD among adolescents.
Literature Review
When PTSD builds up to a point where it is not easily manageable, depression becomes prevalent. Prolonged depression is a leading cause of suicide, where adolescents reach a point of no return. It is, therefore, essential to address the issue of stress since it is significant for disorientation in the lives of adolescents when transitioning into adulthood (Fincham et al., 2009). Societies set aside programs to provide cancellation to adolescents facing difficulties associated with stressful experiences and help them to overcome its drastic effects through psychiatric assistance. The article outlines the importance of adolescents understanding that stress is a state of mind that can transform constant efforts. It should not control the direction of their lives since not everything is permanent because everything is susceptible to change.
Theoretical Framework
PTSD occurs due to overwhelming experiences that an individual goes through when things do not work out according to the plans. It can also result from situations without precedent, such as the immediate loss of a person in an accident. The stress level an individual experience is directly proportional to their coping mechanism (Fincham et al., 2009). For instance, determinants of the duration of stressful experiences depend on the individual’s ability to detach from the occurrence and accept that it is part of life, thereby moving on. For adolescents, different factors lead to stressful experiences throughout their lives. Childhood traumas affect the cognitive abilities of individuals as they transition to adulthood, especially at college levels, where they end up with immense stress.
Study Design, Research Questions, and Methods
The presentation critically analyzes the causes of PTSD in adolescents and the effects on their mental health. The research design has an introduction describing adolescent stress (Fincham et al., 2009). The research questions provide an overview of their lives and how stress affects their normalcy. The research methods overlook the causes and effects of PTSD and the coping mechanisms of stress. It also states the importance of awareness regarding the information on PTSD among adolescents.
Sampling, Measures, and Data Collection
The research sampling targets a study group in South Africa of 787 participants from 5 public secondary schools (Fincham et al., 2009). Samples were collected by ascertaining that he or she is under the influence of stress through acts of agitation, frustration, and moodiness which is technically correct. The research is participant observation. The criteria for asking questions concentrated on their feeling of losing control over the happenings in the external environment. The physical signs of pain are general body aches, especially chest pains, accompanied by feelings of discomfort in the heart. It can be reflected in exhaustion and lack of sleep even when the person requires it. It was not difficult to find the study group because the participants were randomly picked from schools. The research methods add to the hypothesis of the research.
Reliability, Validity, and Data Analyses
PTSD affects adolescents in various aspects of their lives, reflected in their overall performance at school and general perspectives of life. One of the significant effects of PTSD among adolescents is depression (Fincham et al., 2009). Depression is characterized by low moods, inability to concentrate, feelings of worthlessness, and suicidal thoughts. The research is a pilot study aiming to develop a concrete hypothesis significant in analyzing the global rate of PTSD diagnosis among adolescents.
Analyses and Results
The displacement defense mechanism is characterized by the wrong allocation of time to priorities, making the individual focus on the wrong things during stress. Regression in defense mechanisms means that the individual will choose to deviate from a current state instead of tackling the situation and elevating it to higher levels of consciousness (Fincham et al., 2009). Rationalization in defense mechanisms happens when the individual decides to justify actions of stress instead of accepting mistakes and owning up to improve the status quo. Sublimation in defense mechanisms occurs when an individual induces an imperative on their actions, making them socially acceptable (Fincham et al., 2009). However, it can have dire consequences since the issue will always return because it is never solved. Reaction formation in defense mechanisms occurs when an individual reacts directly to the action causing stress. It is another definition of escapism where the individual does not want to face the consequences of the actions that are evident in their objective reality.
References
Fincham, D. S., Altes, L. K., Stein, D. J., & Seedat, S. (2009). Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in adolescents: Risk factors versus resilience moderation. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 50(3), 193–199.
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