Abstract:
Adolescence is a period when significant Iife transitions occur. Each of the challenges faced by young people represents a potential threat to psychological well-being, with adolescents at increased risk for negative outcomes such as depression and delinquency. Despite this, Iess research has investigated factors related to this age group than either childhood or adulthood, pointing to the need for increased understanding of adolescence through scientific studies, using both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. This thesis presents quantitative and qualitative research conducted with a group of adolescents over the course of one year. An evaluation study examined changes over time in well-being, family cohesion, and personal goals of young people (n = 27) involved in an intervention programme (Project K) aimed at middle adolescents with Iow self-esteem, and a matched control group (n = 15). The intervention group experienced significant increases in subjective well-being and family cohesion, although the latter was not maintained at follow-up. Adolescent goals were examined using personal projects analysis. Changes over time were found in transitional goals for the intervention group, with no increase evident for the control group. A related study, employing interview data based on personal projects analysis, investigated the instigation, continuation, and termination of goal-directed activities with a subsample of 14 participants. This revealed significant themes in middle adolescence related to social Coimeetedness, competence, and autonomy. These results have implications for clinical practice with youth.
