Correlation between Temperament, Perception of Stress and Successful Adaptation of Adolescents

Marčinko, Ivana and Ajduković, Dean. (2013). Correlation between Temperament, Perception of Stress and Successful Adaptation of Adolescents. Ljetopis socijalnog rada, 20(3). pp. 363-386. ISSN 1846-5412, 1848-7971

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Abstract

The aim of the research was to investigate the role of temperament in a successful adaptation of adolescents in the period of an increased exposure tostress. The Cloninger's temperaments model was used to explore whether temperament contributes to a successful adaptation of adolescents in the period of an increased exposure to stress both directly and indirectly, through peripheral levels of stress. The research conducted in the city of Osijek included 233 third-year grammar school students. Temperament was studied using the Temperament Scale (Cloninger et al., 1994), while perceived levels of stress were measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen, Kamarck and Mermelstein, 1983), and the successful adaptation by the Youth Self-Report (Achenbach, 1991). Multiple regression analysis was used and resulted in the conclusion that temperament directly and indirectly contributes to both a successful adaptation and its components. Low harm avoidance and low novelty seeking are predictors of a successful adaptation of adolescents.In addition to the possibility of predicting the general level of adaptation, the combination of individual temperament dimensionsdirectly contributes to a series of symptoms that arise as a consequence of stress. When it comes to indirect relations, stress is confirmed as a mediator of the correlation between temperament and a successful adaptation. It has been proved that stress is a mediator of the relationship between one of temperament dimensions, harm avoidance and a series of criteria. Overall, the research results show that temperament contributes to the level of adaptation of adolescents in the period of increased stress as well as to the probability of appearance of deviant conditions and behaviour, which are common reactions to stress.

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