The development of psychological well-being in late adolescence.
Studies following adolescents from school to work indicate a sharp decrease in psychological symptoms over the 16-17-year period compared to a more gentle decrease subsequently. This could be a genuine developmental phenomenon, related to school leaving, or because anxiety levels are higher at age 16 years due to approaching examinations. The present study examined these hypotheses. GHQ scores for those at school were related to examination candidacy. Eighteen months later such differences had disappeared among those young people now in full-time employment. Similarly, a group who remained in full-time education also showed a significant decline in GHQ scores.
Cairns
E
E
Psychology Department, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland.
McWhirter
L
L
Barry
R
R
Duffy
U
U
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010553:Personality Development; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D013332:Student Dropouts / Q000523:psychology