title: Adolescent stress factors: implications for the nurse practitioner.
abstract: This article present results of a descriptive study designed to assess gender differences in stress factors of adolescents attending rural, urban and suburban public schools. The Roy Adaptation Model of Nursing was selected as the theoretical framework for the study. Subjects were 323 freshmen in high schools in eastern Tennessee; mean age was 15.5 years. Most frequently reported stressors were hassling with parents, hassling with siblings, and making new friends. There was little difference between boys and girls in prevalence of these stress factors. However, gender differences in amount and types of other stressors were identified. Regardless of geographic location, mean stress scores of females were higher; urban females reported the highest stress levels. Females were more concerned with self-concept issues and interdependence issues, whereas males were more concerned with role function issues. Nurse practitioners and school nurses have unique opportunities to promote improved adaptation in adolescents experiencing stress. Intervention strategies are proposed for each of the four adaptation modes delineated by Roy.
authors.affiliation: Center for Nursing Research, University of Tennessee College of Nursing, Knoxville.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Shoffner
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Groer
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D011321:Primary Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D012380:Role; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy*