A research team from the Center for Life-Span Development (CLSD), Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), is initiating a qualitative study to understand how Indonesian adolescents define mental health, the challenges they face, and the protective and risk factors that shape their psychological well-being. National data indicate that 34.9% of adolescents experienced mental health problems in the past 12 months, yet only 2.6% have accessed services. In response, this study seeks to foreground adolescents’ own voices to ensure that resulting interventions genuinely align with their lived experiences. This research is funded by the 2025 UGM Faculty of Psychology Research Grant.
The study is motivated by concern over the “storm and stress” dynamics of adolescence, marked by biological, cognitive, and social changes, ranging from academic pressure and family–peer relationships to social media exposure, all of which can heighten emotional difficulties. Global and national studies show that half of all mental health disorders begin before age 14, yet often remain undetected and untreated. The implications extend beyond current functioning to long-term health and productivity in adulthood. At the same time, many adolescents navigate these transitions successfully thanks to protective factors such as high-quality social support, personal resilience, emotion regulation skills, and a strong sense of school belonging. Understanding the balance between risks and protections in the Indonesian context is crucial for effective prevention and early intervention.
Adopting a grounded theory approach, the study places adolescents’ perspectives at the heart of knowledge building. The team plans to recruit approximately 15–30 participants aged 12–17 residing in Indonesia and conduct online, semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Data collection and analysis will proceed iteratively: beginning with open coding to identify initial concepts, followed by axial coding to connect categories, and selective coding to formulate a core concept that represents adolescents’ collective experiences. Sampling will be purposive and theoretically driven until data saturation is reached. Validity will be strengthened through member checking to ensure that interpretations accurately reflect participants’ intended meanings.
The research has four primary aims: to map adolescents’ definitions of mental health; identify key challenges across social, academic, and family contexts; explore strategies they use to maintain daily psychological well-being; and delineate the protective and risk factors they experience. An ecological framework informs the analysis, situating individuals within interconnected influences of family, school, and community. At the individual level, resilience, self-esteem, and prosocial behavior often serve as buffers, whereas stress and emotional difficulties can erode coping capacity. Within families, warmth, monitoring, and open communication are associated with lower depressive symptoms, while persistent conflict can heighten anxiety. In schools, inclusive climates, positive teacher–student relationships, and a strong sense of belonging bolster well-being; conversely, bullying and perceptions of unsafe environments exacerbate problems. In communities, welcoming and tolerant social networks can be protective, while social conflict, violence, and instability increase vulnerability.
The team is led by Aisha Sekar Lazuardini Rachmanie, S.Psi., M.Psi., Psychologist (CLSD), with members Aliyaturrahmah Supriyadi, S.Psi., MHS., Wulan Nur Jatmika, S.Psi., M.Sc., and Pradytia Putri Pertiwi, S.Psi., Ph.D., supported by graduate student and alumni research assistants: Retni Retnasari, S.Psi.; Siti Afifa Choirunissah, S.Psi.; Zararah Yusri Nasution, S.Psi.; Debrinna Tryanan Asmaradhani, S.Psi.; and I Marannu Andi Khalsiha, S.Psi. Drawing on developmental and clinical psychology, the team combines sensitivity to adolescent developmental dynamics with an evidence-based intervention orientation. The research will run for ten months within the Faculty of Psychology UGM.
Planned outputs include publication in a nationally accredited journal and dissemination of findings through SDGs-aligned faculty news coverage. The study aims to produce a theory grounded in Indonesian adolescents’ authentic experiences, providing a foundation for policies and programs that are contextually relevant, measurable, and impactful. In the longer term, the findings are expected to strengthen the support ecosystem for adolescents, from families to schools and communities, by building psychological resilience, mitigating risk factors, and improving access to and acceptance of needed mental health services. By centering adolescents’ voices, this research seeks to clarify what “being mentally healthy” means to them and how Indonesia can respond more precisely in nurturing it. This research is funded by the 2025 UGM Faculty of Psychology Research Grant.
Writer: Raden Roro Anisa Anggi Dinda