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Behavioral Sciences
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Stress and Resilience in Adolescence and Early Adulthood
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Stress and Resilience in Adolescence and Early Adulthood

A special issue of Behavioral Sciences (ISSN 2076-328X). This special issue belongs to the section "Child and Adolescent Psychiatry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 September 2026 | Viewed by 3724

Editor

Dr. Christa C. Christ

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina Upstate, Spartanburg, SC 29303, USA
Interests: stress; resilience; physiological mechanisms; coping strategies; social relations

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As individuals transition into adolescence and subsequently early adulthood, they shift from relying primarily on parental guidance to seeking support and validation from peers in a process of developing a stronger sense of identity and self. This developmental period, however, is often marked by a range of stressors, such as academic pressures, interpersonal conflicts, emerging romantic relationships, facing discrimination or microaggressions, and challenges related to body image and self-esteem. While some young people develop effective coping strategies to navigate these stressors, others face greater difficulties in managing them. Given the rise in anxiety and depression during this critical life stage, it is essential to examine the factors that foster resilience in young people. This Special Issue seeks to advance the interdisciplinary literature on stress and resilience among adolescents and young adults. We invite empirical contributions that enhance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying resilience and heightened stress as well as their psychological and developmental impacts on youth.

Dr. Christa C. Christ
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Behavioral Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • stress
  • resilience
  • coping
  • adolescence
  • early adulthood

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 722 KB  
Article
Indirect Path from Cyberbullying to Suicide Attempts: Hopelessness as a Central Bridge in a Risk Behavior Network
by Jiaxin Hu, Lijun Ma and Xu He
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(7), 1065; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16071065 (registering DOI) - 26 Jun 2026
Abstract
Despite growing concern about cyberbullying as a contributor to the adolescent mental health crisis, its position within the broader network of co-occurring risks remains theoretically unresolved. Guided by the Three-Step Theory of suicide, the current study conceptualized cyberbullying as a distal contextual risk [...] Read more.
Despite growing concern about cyberbullying as a contributor to the adolescent mental health crisis, its position within the broader network of co-occurring risks remains theoretically unresolved. Guided by the Three-Step Theory of suicide, the current study conceptualized cyberbullying as a distal contextual risk that influences suicidality indirectly through hopelessness. An Ising model network was estimated in a nationally representative sample of 9621 U.S. high school students from the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, including cyberbullying victimization and 13 other risk behaviors. The results showed that hopelessness was the most central node (Strength z = 1.89) and the strongest bridge (Bridge Strength z = 2.35), linking mental health to other domains. The shortest path from cyberbullying to suicide attempts was direct (path length = 2.37), though the indirect pathway through hopelessness and suicidal ideation was marginally longer (2.48), and removing hopelessness reduced cyberbullying’s bridge strength from 3.00 to 2.39 (Δ = −0.61). Network comparison tests revealed no significant sex differences in global strength or structure, and bootstrap analyses confirmed excellent stability. These findings position hopelessness as a central bridging node in the adolescent risk network. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress and Resilience in Adolescence and Early Adulthood)
17 pages, 409 KB  
Article
From Adolescent Stress Mindset to Positive Behavior: The Moderation Role of Social Support and Sex Differences
by Xu Jiang, Shannon M. Testa and Marissa F. Mulvey
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(7), 1060; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16071060 (registering DOI) - 26 Jun 2026
Abstract
Based on the mindset × context framework, the interplay between individual mindsets and social context factors should be considered together while analyzing mindset’s effects on developmental outcomes. This study focuses on how stress mindsets might interact with social support to predict two positive [...] Read more.
Based on the mindset × context framework, the interplay between individual mindsets and social context factors should be considered together while analyzing mindset’s effects on developmental outcomes. This study focuses on how stress mindsets might interact with social support to predict two positive behaviors (personal growth initiative and strengths use) in adolescents using a moderation model and whether a such mechanism differs across sex via a moderated moderation model. Participants were 620 high school students aged 14 to 19 years (M = 17.51, SD = 1.23), from diverse U.S. regions, who completed an online self-report survey in spring 2022. Statistical analyses were conducted using the PROCESS macro in SPSS. The results showed that the moderation effect in the single moderation model was not significant, while all interaction terms were statistically significant in the moderated moderation model. Specifically, the magnitude of the positive relation between stress mindset and strengths use was weaker at higher levels of social support among males; however, this relation was stronger when the social support level was high for females, showing the opposite trend. Overall, the results support the mindset × context framework and highlight the different mechanisms by which mindsets and social support work together between males and females. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress and Resilience in Adolescence and Early Adulthood)
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17 pages, 531 KB  
Article
Uncovering Motivational Profiles Among Academically Resilient Students: A Population-Level Latent Profile Analysis
by Michele Zacchilli, Giulia Raimondi, Sara Manganelli, Elisa Cavicchiolo, Tommaso Palombi, James Dawe, Barbara Cazzolli, Fabio Lucidi and Fabio Alivernini
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(6), 852; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16060852 - 26 May 2026
Viewed by 332
Abstract
Academically resilient students achieve high performance despite socioeconomic disadvantages. Although this population has received increasing attention, little is known about its motivational heterogeneity, a critical gap given the central role of motivation in persistence and success. Guided by Self-Determination Theory (SDT), this study [...] Read more.
Academically resilient students achieve high performance despite socioeconomic disadvantages. Although this population has received increasing attention, little is known about its motivational heterogeneity, a critical gap given the central role of motivation in persistence and success. Guided by Self-Determination Theory (SDT), this study examined motivational profiles among a population of academically resilient 10th-grade students in Italy (N = 15,751). Using a person-centered approach, Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) identified three profiles: a “multifaceted regulation resilient” profile (72%), marked by low amotivation and high levels across regulations; a “moderately amotivated resilient” profile (21%), with higher amotivation and lower levels of regulation; and a “strongly amotivated resilient” profile (7%), characterized by the highest amotivation and the lowest levels of regulation. Auxiliary analyses indicated that the amotivated profiles, particularly the “strongly amotivated resilient” profile, exhibited higher school dropout intentions than the “multifaceted regulation resilient” profile. Overall, although the majority of academically resilient students displayed multiple coexisting forms of regulation, a non-negligible subgroup showed significant motivational vulnerability, with amotivation emerging as a central risk factor. These findings challenge the assumption that academic resilience is sufficient to protect students from motivational disengagement and dropout risk. High academic achievement, in other words, should not be taken to imply the absence of motivational concerns. This highlights the importance of moving beyond a one-size-fits-all approach, recognizing that even within resilient populations, specific subgroups remain motivationally vulnerable and in need of tailored support. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress and Resilience in Adolescence and Early Adulthood)
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21 pages, 1401 KB  
Article
The Relationship Between Negative Life Events and Internalizing Problems: The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem and the Moderating Role of Resilience
by Dexian He, Jiaxin Mai and Xianyou He
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(6), 845; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16060845 - 25 May 2026
Viewed by 326
Abstract
Negative life events (NLEs) are robust environmental correlates of adolescent internalizing problems (IPs), yet the psychological mechanism and boundary conditions remain unclear. To examine whether self-esteem accounts for the association between NLEs and adolescent IPs, and whether resilience conditions these links, 400 adolescents [...] Read more.
Negative life events (NLEs) are robust environmental correlates of adolescent internalizing problems (IPs), yet the psychological mechanism and boundary conditions remain unclear. To examine whether self-esteem accounts for the association between NLEs and adolescent IPs, and whether resilience conditions these links, 400 adolescents completed anonymous measures assessing NLEs, IPs, self-esteem, and resilience. The results show that (1) NLEs were positively associated with IPs, (2) self-esteem mediated the association between NLEs and IPs, (3) resilience moderated the relationship between NLEs and IPs, and (4) resilience also moderated the link between NLEs and self-esteem, such that associations were weaker at higher resilience. The index of moderated mediation was significant, indicating that the indirect effect via self-esteem decreased as resilience increased. These findings suggest that reduced self-esteem is an important link between exposure to negative life events and internalizing symptoms. Moreover, the findings indicate that resilience functions as a protective factor that attenuates both direct and indirect associations, suggesting potential targets for school-based prevention aimed at strengthening self-worth and resilience. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress and Resilience in Adolescence and Early Adulthood)
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15 pages, 539 KB  
Article
Gender Differences in Interpersonal Coping and Depressive Symptoms During Emerging Adulthood
by Chong Man Chow, Caitlyn Thelen, Sarah Dean and Ellen Hart
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(5), 682; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16050682 - 30 Apr 2026
Viewed by 398
Abstract
The current study examined how interpersonal coping styles (anxious/expressive, dismissive, and adaptive) within parent and peer domains were associated with depressive symptoms in emerging adults, and whether these associations were moderated by gender. The sample included 352 undergraduate students at a Midwestern university [...] Read more.
The current study examined how interpersonal coping styles (anxious/expressive, dismissive, and adaptive) within parent and peer domains were associated with depressive symptoms in emerging adults, and whether these associations were moderated by gender. The sample included 352 undergraduate students at a Midwestern university (41% women, 59% men), primarily White/Caucasian (88.9%), with a mean age of 18.91 years (SD = 0.97). Participants completed the Interpersonal Coping Styles Questionnaire and the Brief Symptom Inventory. At the bivariate level, anxious/expressive coping with both parents and peers were associated with higher depressive symptoms, whereas adaptive coping was not significantly related to depressive symptoms. Dismissive coping was associated with depressive symptoms only in the parent domain. In regression analyses, peer-related coping accounted for additional variance in depressive symptoms beyond parent-related coping, whereas the reverse was not observed. Gender moderated several associations. Among men, anxious/expressive coping with peers was positively associated with depressive symptoms, whereas adaptive coping with peers was negatively associated. Among women, dismissive coping with peers was associated with higher depressive symptoms. These findings highlight the relevance of relational context and gender in understanding depressive symptoms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress and Resilience in Adolescence and Early Adulthood)
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13 pages, 468 KB  
Article
The Effect of Solution-Focused Brief Group Counseling on Adolescents’ Self-Confidence Levels
by Okan Bilgin and Mustafa Koç
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(3), 378; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16030378 - 6 Mar 2026
Viewed by 1143
Abstract
Solution-focused brief group counseling is a systematic approach that centers on solutions rather than the problem itself. In this approach, which focuses on the strengths of the clients, the solutions are generated by the clients themselves, which is theorized to positively affect their [...] Read more.
Solution-focused brief group counseling is a systematic approach that centers on solutions rather than the problem itself. In this approach, which focuses on the strengths of the clients, the solutions are generated by the clients themselves, which is theorized to positively affect their self-confidence. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of Solution-Focused Brief Counseling (SFBC) on adolescents’ self-confidence levels. In line with the purpose of the study, the following hypothesis was tested: SFBC will significantly increase the self-confidence levels of adolescents with low and moderate self-confidence, and these gains will be maintained during the follow-up period. Utilizing a 2 × 3 mixed design (experimental/control groups × pre-test/post-test/follow-up), participants with low and moderate self-confidence scores were randomly assigned to either experimental or control groups. The adolescents in the experimental groups received a six-session SFBC intervention developed by the researcher. Data were collected using the Self-Confidence Scale and a personal information form. According to the findings, SFBC provided a statistically significant increase in the self-confidence levels of the adolescents in the experimental groups for both low and moderate baseline levels. These improvements were successfully maintained during the follow-up period, whereas no significant differences were found across the pre-test, post-test, and follow-up measurements of the participants in the control groups. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress and Resilience in Adolescence and Early Adulthood)
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15 pages, 275 KB  
Article
University Students’ Psychological Adjustment After Disasters: Investigating the Role of Post-Disaster Stressors, Sense of Community, Social Support Exchanges, and Shifts in Worldviews
by Natalia Jaramillo, Melissa A. Janson, Krzysztof Kaniasty, Annette M. La Greca and Erika D. Felix
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(3), 369; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16030369 - 5 Mar 2026
Viewed by 734
Abstract
This multi-university, multi-disaster study examined associations among prior trauma exposure, disaster exposure, and post-disaster life stressors with mental health outcomes, as well as the potential protective roles of a perceived altruistic community, post-disaster social support exchanges, and changes in world beliefs. University students [...] Read more.
This multi-university, multi-disaster study examined associations among prior trauma exposure, disaster exposure, and post-disaster life stressors with mental health outcomes, as well as the potential protective roles of a perceived altruistic community, post-disaster social support exchanges, and changes in world beliefs. University students in disaster-affected areas of the mainland United States and Puerto Rico (N = 666; 77.5% female; M age = 21.26) completed an online survey assessing disaster exposure, post-disaster life stressors, perceptions of community unity, social support exchanges, post-disaster changes in world beliefs, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTSS), depression, and anxiety. Younger age emerged as a risk factor for depression and anxiety, and Black participants reported higher PTSS than White participants. Greater lifetime trauma exposure, experiencing the hurricanes in Puerto Rico or the California wildfires (compared to mainland hurricanes), and reporting more post-disaster life stressors were each associated with elevated PTSS, depression, and anxiety symptoms. In contrast, a stronger sense of an altruistic community was associated with lower levels of these symptoms. More positive post-disaster changes in beliefs about the world were related to lower PTSS and depression, whereas greater involvement in social support exchanges was associated with higher PTSS. Findings underscore the importance of identifying both risk and protective factors that shape young adults’ post-disaster adjustment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress and Resilience in Adolescence and Early Adulthood)
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