ADOLESCENTS AT THE CROSSROADS OF IDENTITY: EXPLORING THE ROLE OF SELF-UNDERSTANDING AND SOCIAL SUPPORT
Keywords:
Adolescents, emotional well-being, social support, self-acceptance, coping mechanismsAbstract
Adolescence is a complex transition period, where individuals face challenges in establishing self-identity and adjusting to the social environment. Social support and self-acceptance play a crucial role in adolescent emotional well-being. This study aims to analyze how these two factors contribute to adolescent emotional well-being, using a case study approach through interviews and observations of a female adolescent respondent. The results of the study indicate that peers play an important role in the process of adolescent identity search. However, when an adolescent experiences social isolation or difficulty in establishing relationships with peer groups, their emotional well-being can be disrupted. Respondents in this study experienced feelings of alienation from their peers in the school environment, but still had emotional support from a best friend since childhood. This social support has been shown to be an important factor in helping adolescents cope with stress and build self-confidence. In addition, self-acceptance is also an important element in adolescent emotional well-being. Respondents showed that despite facing social and academic challenges, they were able to develop effective coping mechanisms through drawing activities. Creative expressions such as drawing not only function as psychological defense mechanisms, but also as tools to improve emotional well-being by diverting negative emotions into more constructive forms. This study underlines the importance of quality social support and strengthening self-acceptance for adolescents in dealing with psychological challenges. Therefore, parents and educators are advised to encourage adolescents' participation in creative activities and provide ongoing emotional support to improve their emotional well-being.
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