Introduction and Objective: Adolescence is a critical developmental period marked by substantial biological, psychological, and social changes. These changes generate multiple challenges that may significantly affect adolescents’ physical and mental health. The present study aimed to develop a model of vulnerability factors among adolescent boys in coping with the challenges of adolescence.
Research Methodology: This qualitative study was conducted using a grounded theory approach. The sample consisted of 12 students from Allameh Tabataba’i University in Tehran in 2024, who were selected through purposive sampling based on the principle of theoretical saturation. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the Strauss and Corbin method.
Findings: The findings yielded 42 open codes and 10 axial codes, including: lack of parental emotional support, informational guidance deficit, sexual challenges, emotional relationships with the opposite sex, unresolved struggles for autonomy, problem-solving–reducing coping strategies, exacerbating strategies, negative emotions and behaviors, feelings of guilt and confusion, and lack of self-acceptance.
Conclusion: The results indicated that lack of parental support, combined with insufficient environmental information, intensifies the pressures experienced by adolescent boys, leading to reduced self-acceptance and increased negative emotions and behaviors. It can therefore be concluded that inadequate parental support and limited awareness contribute significantly to the psychological and social vulnerability of adolescent boys.