Psychological Distress Encountered by Adolescents in India and Globally: Systematic Review of Key Risks and Various Protective Factors

Description

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21295561

Umar Azmi and Md. Jasimuddin Khan (Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Integral University, India)

The present world is facing a large global public health concern involving numerous adolescents who are exposed to conditions such as depression, anxiety, and psychological distress. In underdeveloped and developing countries, which include India, the public health concern is aggravated by different cultural stressors, varied stigma, and insufficient mental health infrastructure, especially at secondary school levels, to effectively deal with it. This systematic review synthesises peer-reviewed research papers’ evidence from Scopus and Web of Science indexed studies (2010 to 2025) so as to identify key risk and protective factors which are associated with psychological distress among adolescents aged 10 to 19 years. PRISMA 2020 guidelines were followed, and a total of 1,249 records were identified across PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Duplicate records were removed and thereafter, the inclusion criteria were applied, resulting in the shortlisting 41 studies for the review. From the study, it was deduced that the majority of risk factors included low self-esteem, academic stress, family conflict, social media abuse, and external locus of control in adolescents. Protective factors included emotional regulation, resilience, cognitive reappraisal, and strong social support networks. In India, excessive cultural emphasis on academic achievement, patriarchal family structures, and limited help-seeking behaviour create a distinct vulnerability profile of the adolescents. Integrated, culturally sensitive interventions, particularly school-based programs to build up resilience and family-centered counselling are essential to address adolescent psychological distress effectively both in India and globally. Future research must prioritize in-depth designs and intervention trials on adolescents for the Indian context, incorporating benefits from global learning.