KMAN Publication Inc. (KMANPUB) Journal of Adolescent and Youth Psychological Studies (JAYPS) 2981-2526 6 Serial Number 39 2025 11 10 Ranking Adolescent Stressors Linked to Urban Lifestyle and Overexposure Ranking Adolescent Stressors Linked to Urban Lifestyle and Overexposure 1 8 10.61838/kman.jayps.4741 EN Journal Article 2025 07 15 <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p><strong>Objective:</strong> This study aimed to identify and rank key stressors affecting adolescents in urban environments, focusing on how digital exposure, academic competition, environmental overload, and social comparison contribute to mental and emotional distress.</p> <p><strong>Methods and Materials: </strong>The research employed a sequential exploratory mixed-methods design. In the qualitative phase, an extensive literature review was conducted using NVivo 14 software to identify major categories of urban stressors until theoretical saturation was achieved. Eight primary themes emerged—academic pressure, digital overexposure, social comparison, lifestyle imbalance, sensory overload, media-driven anxiety, urban isolation, and spatial constraints. In the quantitative phase, a structured questionnaire derived from these themes was distributed to 200 adolescents (aged 13–18) from urban regions of Hungary. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, with descriptive statistics, the Friedman test, and reliability analysis (Cronbach’s α = 0.89) applied to determine the relative significance of stressors.</p> <p><strong>Findings: </strong>The Friedman test results indicated statistically significant differences in the mean ranks of stressors (p &lt; 0.001). Academic and performance pressure ranked highest (mean rank = 4.67), followed by digital overexposure (4.51), social comparison (4.38), and lifestyle imbalance (4.21). Environmental and media-related stressors—such as sensory overload and media-driven anxiety—were moderately ranked, while urban isolation and physical constraints had the lowest rankings. These findings suggest that cognitive and social pressures related to performance and technology use are stronger predictors of adolescent distress than physical or environmental factors.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study demonstrates that the urban adolescent experience is characterized by overlapping academic and digital stressors that operate within a high-demand environment. Understanding the hierarchical structure of these stressors can inform interventions promoting balance, digital mindfulness, and academic reform to mitigate chronic urban stress among youth.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> https://journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/jayps/article/download/4741/8568