Stress cont.
Possible causes of vulnerability levels include: – Genetics
Evidence from family studies, particularly studies involving twins, seem to show a strong genetic element. It seems that one aspect of a young person’s vulnerability is related to their genetic make-up. – Coping style Certain methods for coping with life’s difficulties seem to be more effective than others. Young people who use effective coping skills seem to deal with stress better than those who don’t. – Thinking style How young people think about themselves or the world around them seems to make a major difference to their level of vulnerability to stress. There are positive thinking methods which help some young people to cope better than others. – Environment The way a young person deals with stress and the options they have are often related to their environment. Anything from the state of a young person’s home to the neighbourhood they live in can make a difference. – Social skills The better a young person’s social skills are the easier it is for them to get other people to help them when things get too tough for them to handle alone. Young people with lots of supportive friends tend to do better in times of crisis than people with fewer or perhaps no other people to turn to. The key to decreasing levels of vulnerability may lie in helping young people to examine the factors outside of genetics which make them vulnerable and looking for positive ways to change
Page 78
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker