Perception isn’t just an Illusion

 By: Catherine Blanchard

Adolescence is a time of growth and self-discovery, but often this can be stifled by mental health problems and substance abuse. In a recent study, researchers found that adolescent’s perception of their socioeconomic ranking among their peers could predict their future mental health and substance use. In this longitudinal study, researchers observed how adolescents: viewed their own social status as compared to others, answered personal questions relating to mental health, and participated in different substance use (Russell & Odgers 2020). Overall, it was found that adolescent’s own perception of their state of life could predict these future problems.

References

Russell, M. A., & Odgers, C. L. (2020). Adolescents’ Subjective Social Status Predicts Day‐to‐Day Mental Health and Future Substance Use. Journal of Research on Adolescence (Wiley-Blackwell), 30, 532–544. doi-org.ezproxy.franu.edu/10.1111/jora.12496

Image: https://www.talkspace.com/blog/5-ways-improve-body-image-confidence-mental-health/

The Future Is Bright (Mostly): How Anxiety Shapes Teens' Perceptions About Their Futures

 By Taylor Decuir  

    Most teens imagine bright futures; however, for teens with anxiety, this is harder. Ramsgaard et al. (2019) investigated the differences in how anxious teens versus teens without anxiety describe their past, future, and cultural expectations. One hundred and sixty-nine teens were instructed to write about their past, future, and how these events were shaped by cultural expectations of life experiences. While anxious teens still envisioned bright futures, when compared to peers, their narratives contained fewer details of positive social support. Their narratives also reflected the limitations and struggles of their current lives, suggesting that they believed anxiety would predict their quality of life.

References

Beaumont, M. (2018). [Teen girl contemplating future] [Photograph]. Milton Accountant. http://www.miltonaccountant.com/ 4-tips -achieving -positive-money-mindset/

Ramsgaard, S., Bohn, A., & Thastrum, M. (2019). Past and future life stories in adolescents with anxiety disorder: Comparison with community controls. Memory, 27(7), 998-1010. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658211.2019.159566