Educational Psychology

Perception of Puberty Anxiety and Coping with It Based on Adolescents’ Lived Experiences; A Qualitative Study

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Mahdi Vojdani hemmat 1
Akbar Pouresmaeil Amini 2
Seyed hasan Tabatabaei 3

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Counseling, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran.

2 PhD Student in Counseling, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

3 Master of School Counseling, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22054/jep.2026.86566.4205
Abstract
Puberty is a period of various challenges. Despite the importance of this period and its physical, psychological, and social effects, puberty anxiety has been less studied as a specific type of anxiety that students experience on the verge of entering adolescence and adopt different strategies to cope with it. This study aimed to investigate the perception of puberty anxiety and coping with it in adolescent students. This study was conducted using a qualitative and content analysis method, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 16 adolescent students who were selected through purposive sampling. Data obtained from interviews were divided into nine main themes. These themes were organized into three general categories: factors underlying puberty anxiety, strategies for constructively dealing with puberty anxiety, and the role of peers in stabilizing or transitioning from puberty. Finally, the core category of “constructive coping strategies based on underlying factors and the role of peers” was obtained. The findings of this study indicate that increasing awareness and education about puberty changes, empathetic and facilitative relationships, and creating supportive environments can play an important role in reducing puberty anxiety and helping adolescent students successfully transition from this developmental stage.

Method: This study was conducted using a qualitative and content analysis method, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 16 adolescent students who were selected through purposive sampling.
Results: Data obtained from interviews were divided into nine main themes. These themes were organized into three general categories: factors underlying puberty anxiety, strategies for constructively dealing with puberty anxiety, and the role of peers in stabilizing or transitioning from puberty. Finally, the core category of “constructive coping strategies based on underlying factors and the role of peers” was obtained.
Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that increasing awareness and education about puberty changes, empathetic and facilitative relationships, and creating supportive environments can play an important role in reducing puberty anxiety and helping adolescents successfully transition from this developmental stage.

Keywords

Anxiety
Puberty anxiety
coping strategies
Students
Adolescents
Subjects
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Educational Psychology
Volume 22, Issue 79
Winter 2026
Pages 77-101

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