In a series of interviews, student participants discussed purpose and personal goals as they related to stress and coping skills. Students also described the role of significant relationships in their lives with peers, parents, teachers, and other family members and mentors.

Analyzing the interviews, researchers found that the key sources of student stress were finances, school and work, family, peers, their neighborhood, immigration, and relocation—and they made an interesting observation about the role of stress.

Stress appeared to be both a barrier and a motivator to purpose development for youth of color in this study.

This study’s findings appear to support Damon’s conclusion and confirm other research that explores underrepresented students’ pathways to purpose and the benefits of having a positive stress mindset.

Yet why did some students in this study experience stress as a barrier rather than a motivator to purpose? When students under stress did not feel they were supported by others, they generally lacked purpose; however, the experience of social support seemed to mitigate stress levels and enhance purpose development. If you have people to lean on, stress doesn’t seem to be as daunting.

Youth who pursue a sense of purpose report higher levels of happiness, life satisfaction, and physical health. In an ideal world, purpose development—at the heart of adolescents’ search for identity—may be driven by intellectual curiosity, healthy risk-taking, and the desire for exploration.