<p>Abstract- Stress, conformity, groups and self-worth in high-school girls</p><p>The aim of this questionnaire-survey was to investigate the experience of stress and symptoms</p><p>of stress in high-school girls, and to examine if the experienced symptoms of stress could be</p><p>predicted by groups, self-worth and conformity. Another purpose of this study was to describe</p><p>the girls own thoughts concerning these factors. 80 girls between the ages of 15-18 years</p><p>answered the questionnaire. The results showed that stress could be predicted by the</p><p>experience of conformity, but not by the experience of belonging to a group and self-worth.</p><p>The most common symptoms of stress were tiredness, problems to concentrate and headache.</p><p>The girls reported that they thought that girls of their own age were “slutty and cocky”, and</p><p>they thought that it was important to look good, but at the same time many girls were happy</p><p>about themselves and they had realised that they had to live with who they are.</p><p>Keywords: high-scool girls, stress, groups, self-worth, conformity</p>

Abstract- Stress, conformity, groups and self-worth in high-school girls The aim of this questionnaire-survey was to investigate the experience of stress and symptoms of stress in high-school girls, and to examine if the experienced symptoms of stress could be predicted by groups, self-worth and conformity. Another purpose of this study was to describe the girls own thoughts concerning these factors. 80 girls between the ages of 15-18 years answered the questionnaire. The results showed that stress could be predicted by the experience of conformity, but not by the experience of belonging to a group and self-worth. The most common symptoms of stress were tiredness, problems to concentrate and headache. The girls reported that they thought that girls of their own age were “slutty and cocky”, and they thought that it was important to look good, but at the same time many girls were happy about themselves and they had realised that they had to live with who they are. Keywords: high-scool girls, stress, groups, self-worth, conformity

Forskningen visar att den psykiska ohälsan hos unga ökar. Ökningen är störst bland unga flickor och en av förklaringarna till detta är användandet av sociala medier. Syftet med studien var att undersöka kuratorers kunskaper och erfarenheter om unga flickors psykiska hälsa och användandet av sociala medier, samt dess påverkan på unga flickor. Studien har genomförts med hjälp av kvalitativa semistrukturerade intervjuer med målinriktat urval som ligger i grunden. En bearbetning av all data har skett genom tematisk analys för att tydligt beskriva resultaten. Resultaten visar kuratorers beskrivningar av att flickor uttrycker kroppsmissnöje, vikts hets och en osund jämförelse med andra på sociala medier som är väldigt förekommande bland unga flickor. Vilket kan orsaka psykisk ohälsa i form av ångest, nedstämdhet och depression. Vidare visar resultaten av undersökningen att självförtroende och självkänsla hos flickor har påverkats negativt och resulterat till att den psykisk ohälsa har ökat med användningen av sociala medier. / Research shows that mental illness in young people is increasing, especially in young girls. This study´s aim was to investigate counsellor’s-'knowledge and experiences about young girls' mental health and the use of social media, as well as its impact on young girls. The method in the survey has been qualitative, semi-structured interviews with goal-oriented selection that is fundamental. All the data were processed through thematic analysis to clearly describe the results. The results of the study have shown that body dissatisfaction, weight gain and comparison with others on social media are very occurring among young girls, which can cause mental illness in the form of anxiety, depression, and performance anxiety. In addition, cyberbullying is common among young girls on social media. The results also show that selfconfidence and self-esteem in girls have been negatively affected and resulted in mental illness increasing with the use of social media.

Mental illness is increasing among high school girls. At the same time the use of social media is increasing which is considered to be a major part of Western society. Increased body weight is considered to be associated with dissatisfaction whit the appearance. A dissatisfaction whit body perception can lead to problems such as depression, anorexia nervosa, self-injury and drug abuse. Never before has it been considered as difficult as it is today to fit into the today's society regarding apperance and it has been a negative trend over recent years. Through increased self-confidence and physical activity can body perception be improved. The purpose of the study was to investigate the thoughts of high school girls regarding how body perception, body ideals and living habits affect their health. Through semistructured interviews of six high school girls the study's empirical content was obtained from which further a inductive qualitative concentanylsis was conducted. The results of the study showed that the thoughts differ and aspects which affect the health most are considered to be the circle of friends and social media. Furthermore, the result showed that the individuals need to find factors in life to create and maintain good health, these factors differ from each individual. In addition to this, the result showed that physical activity, in excessive amounts, did contribute to a better health. From a public-health perspective is it important to increase the health of the population and prevent mental illness, especially among the young people who are the future of Sweden. Further studies on the subject can lead to more and better methods and strategies to prevent mental illness among high school girls.