Psychological security of teens in vocational school

Abstract

This article highlights the importance of psychological safety for adolescents, focusing on the protection of the individual's mental health. Recent decades have marked a rapid development in this area, with various programmes aimed at ensuring psychological safety in social contexts, particularly in education. Although the level of physical security has increased, today's society feels an increased need for security due to threats such as international conflicts and environmental issues, which can affect psychological well-being. In this article the authors explored the concept of psychological security which involves a sense of trust and protection, facilitating personal growth and effective social interactions. The results of a study of adolescents studying in vocational schools are presented. The relationship between anxiety and psychological security is explored, finding that higher levels of anxiety correlate with lower psychological security. This study, which involved 110 adolescents, used various scales to measure anxiety and psychological safety, revealing significant negative correlations. Factors such as peer relationships, teachers and classroom environment play crucial roles in enhancing adolescents' psychological security. Findings highlight that an enhanced sense of psychological security in an environment can increase adaptability and resilience in new and challenging contexts, such as moving from rural to urban settings. Overall, psychological security is a protective factor that supports well-being and adaptability during significant life transitions.