COUNSELING ADOLESCENTS EXPERIENCING STRESS
Research has found that most adolescents have experienced stress (Walker, 1993, pp. 1-3). Anxiety and depression are among the detrimental outcomes associated with stress among subjects in the 12-to-19 year old age group (D'Onofrio & Klesse, 1190, pp. 1-24).
The phenomenon of stress is defined as a state of tension, strain, or pressure (Totman, 1944, p. 312). Stress is a normal reaction resulting from the interaction between an individual and the environment. Reactions to stress may produce either positive or negative results, depending upon the causes of the stress, other factors present in an environment, and characteristics of affected individuals. The phenomenon of stress is recognized as a major contributor to the onset of significant physical and mental health problems in the lives of individuals (Maes, Vingerhoets, & Heck, 1987, pp. 567-587).
Stress is a normal reaction resulting from the interaction between an individual and the environment (Hinkel, 1987, pp. 561-566). Those actions or conditions which induce stress are referred to as stressors. Stressors are defined as conditions and factors that induce stressful physical and psychological reactions on the part of individuals exposed to them (Langner & Michael, 1992, pp. 23-24).
The level of stress experienced is defined as the weighted value of all stressors perceived by an individual. Individual perceptions determine both the intrusion of a specific stressor into the life of an individual, and the intensity of the stressor's effect on the individual.
This expanded concept of stress contained three levels as follows: (1) the environment; (2) the organism's appraisal and evaluation of the environment; and (3) the organism's reaction to the environment (Kaufman, 1991, pp. 257-265). An organism appraises and evaluates the environment as threatening, helpful, or neutral. Responses on the part of an organism may...