| dc.description.abstract | The primary goal of this study is to research the pressure imposed upon adolescents to perform
as well as to suggest practical guidelines to counsel them. It is found that adolescents
experience both external (parents, teachers, coaches and friends) and internal (perfectionism
and the fear of failure) factors. Stress, anxiousness, depression, eating disorders, substance
and alcohol abuse and even suicide have been found in terms of the effects of performance
pressure as found with adolescents.
The Bible enlightens us to the possible external factors of performance pressure found with
adolescents. According to the Bible, parents have certain responsibilities in terms of raising their
children, and discretion should be applied when selecting friends.
The internal factors related to performance pressure, such as perfectionism and the fear of
failure can be addressed within the context of the Bible's message, guiding the adolescent
pastorally. The Bible provides general perspectives regarding anxiousness, stress, depression,
suicide, eating disorders and substance and alcohol abuse that can be applied during the
pastoral counseling of adolescents.
Research of the literature found within the subject areas of psychology and sport sciences,
regarding performance pressure, within the context of adolescents show that the motivation for
parents, friends, teachers and coaches to pressure adolescents to perform. This research (from
psychology and sport sciences) regarding depression, suicide, anxiousness, eating disorders
and substance and alcohol abuse display the effect of performance pressure found within
adolescents. A qualitative empirical study with five adolescents, provide the reader with a good
comprehension of performance pressure experienced by adolescents.
The perspectives found within the Bible, literature and empirical research are placed within a
hermeneutical interaction to produce a practical theorem.
Finally, practical guidelines can be formulated in the pastoral counseling of adolescents
experiencing performance pressure. | |
