Vitality in Teenagers and Adolescents: Dynamics and Determinants

In: Russian Foundation for Basic Research Journal. Humanities and social sciences, p. 126-134

Abstract

The author explores human vitality as an indicator of people's ability to develop, adapt and maintain stability/balance in challenging life situations. The concept of vitality embraces two aspects: susceptibility to negative circumstances and subsequent successful adaptation or positive outcome. The core factors of human vitality are considered personal traits, social competence, and available external support. The paper reflects the procedure of adapting and testing the psychometric indicators of the questionnaire aimed at assessing the vitality factors. It describes the findings of the study focused on the development of vitality in teenagers and adolescents. It is assumed that vitality differs across age groups at different stages of ontogeny, and personality traits and social relations are either protective or risk factors. It is shown that vitality differs across different age groups of young people, including by gender. The author discusses the personal development of junior schoolchildren with different levels of vitality. The group of viable younger adolescents expresses the "high IQ" factor (V), and "low-vitality" adolescents feel a high level of anxiety (factor O).