Research and read about the stress study conducted in Baltimore called “Shifting the Lens,” which focused on stressors in African-American urban teenagers. As a young adult, do you agree with the findings of the study and the stressors that it identifies? What are the main stressors in your life? What do you do to cope effectively with stress?

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Yes, I do agree with the findings of the Baltimore study “Shifting the Lens.” The study found that parents, family, and interpersonal relationships with school friends are the leading stressors in a teenager’s life. Most people believe that the leading causes of stress are problems with authority, peer pressure, drugs, alcohol, and so on. While this is true to some extent for many teenagers, most teenagers have a harder time coping with everyday stressors.

Some of my main stressors include family problems (disagreements with my parents about my allowance, chores, and curfew); my performance at school (I’m good at languages, but I struggle with math); my worries about the future (about what colleges will accept me); and my hectic schedule, crammed full of school and sports activities. My schedule can be hard to juggle and leaves me with very little personal time.

To cope with my stress, I have my family and my closest friends for support. When I’m upset with my parents, I talk to them about it. My friends have similar stresses, so they empathize. In addition to sharing how I feel, I’ve also found that hobbies help to take my mind off the stressors. Therefore, no matter how busy I am, I try to paint and read when I’m feeling stressed. Keeping a diary also helps me to process my thoughts and feelings. Sometimes, instead of immediately reacting to a stressor, I write down how I’m feeling. It helps me to vent as well as to calm down and rationalize my feelings.

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