Relationship Between Perceived Social Support and Psychological Distress Among Adolescent in Chitral.

Abstract

Adolescence is a period in which the occurrence of common mental health problems increases, for example, studies have revealed that the rates of depression rise significantly from 1% during early adolescence (around age 12 to 17) to as high as 25% during late adolescence (Andersen et al., 2008). Social support plays a crucial role in enhancing psychological well-being, as it includes the help and care people get from their family, friends, and loved ones. This support is characterized by qualities such as affection, attention, care, and trust (Zimet et al., 1988). It has been established that social support plays a crucial role in adolescent mental health (Cohen & McKay, 1984). Furthermore, social support not only impacts mental health but also contributes to overall mental and physical wellness (Wilks .,2008).The objective of this research was to examine the relationship between perceived social support and psychological distress among adolescents in Chitral. Furthermore, the study sought to determine the prevalence of psychological distress among the 400 study's participants, who were recruited through convenience sampling from various colleges in Chitral. The hypothesis was that there would be a relationship between perceived social support and psychological distress among adolescents. The study utilized the DASS-21 scale to assess psychological distress and the MSPSS-12 to evaluate perceived social support. The findings of this study indicate that psychological distress is prevalent among adolescents in Chitral 74 % suffer from depression, 73% from anxiety and 80% suffer from stress. This result also revealed a negative correlation (r=-.116*) between psychological distress and perceived social support.