Exploring the nature and impact of risk factors on the wellbeing of youth

Abstract

20 year old suicides after PUBG ban. 9 year old suicides after being bullied for being gay. 14 year old breaks the law to get parents’ attention. 16 year old commits suicide; leaves video message for younger brother to fulfill parents’ dreams. Cases that could be avoided only if mental health was not stigmatized; if parents/teachers/primary caretakers tried to prioritize the mental wellbeing of their children; only if these adolescents would not have felt unheard; only if someone would have told these children it was okay not to feel okay always. The purpose of the study was to explore the nature and impact of risk factors on the Well Being of PU and degree students in the age range of 14- 17 and 18-20 years. Adolescent well-being is usually studied either in terms of physical health or mental health but the reciprocal relation between them has not been completely explored. Two research instruments namely: Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWB) & Risky, Impulsive, and Self-Destructive Behavior Questionnaire (RISQ) were used to gather data for the study. Results from analysis using Pearson correlation technique showed a positive correlation between reckless behavior and personal growth, aggression and personal growth, reckless behavior and positive relations, purpose in life and aggression & impulsive eating. The findings of the study also indicated that the group as a whole had a moderate level of psychological well-being. Aggression was the most prevalent risk factor among the sample.