Adolescents’ Strategies to Manage Psychopathology Symptoms: a Mixed Methods Study in a Community Sample

Abstract Adolescents' management of psychopathology symptoms is crucial for preventing diagnosed conditions, yet little is known about adolescents’ specific strategies to do so. For instance, it remains unclear how adolescents manage worrying (symptom of emotional problems) or lack of focus (symptom of hyperactivity/inattention). To address this gap, we created an innovative online tool surveying a community sample of 218 adolescents aged 16 to 19. They shared how they manage specific symptoms of hyperactivity/inattention, conduct problems, and emotional problems, and rated effectiveness of their strategies. Qualitative inductive analysis uncovered 51 strategies, some mirroring established emotion regulation or coping strategies, while others were novel. Interestingly, strategies varied across symptoms, and the most frequently used strategies were considered effective. These findings shed light on the wide array of adolescent-specific and symptom-specific strategies that adolescents find helpful. They offer valuable insights for designing prevention programs that resonate with adolescents' unique lives and needs.