New Zealand Adolescents' Perceptions of Self and others

Abstract

As part of a larger study of adolescents' stress, 1,799 12- to 18-yr.-olds in New Zealand compared themselves with other young people of their age on five general issues. Girls were significantly more likely than boys to say they think they worry more and have more health problems than most people of their age; younger adolescents were more likely than older ones to say they think they are under more peer pressure than most people of their age. On all items, however, most participants rated themselves physically and psychologically healthier than most of their peers.