Adolescent Behaviour: A Thematic Inquiry into the Underlying Influences

Adolescence is a period of heightened vulnerability marked by both internalizing and externalizing behavioural difficulties. While existing research in India has focused largely on prevalence rates, few studies have examined how unique educational environments shape adolescent behaviour. This study explored behavioural challenges among adolescents in Kota, Rajasthan—India’s foremost coaching hub—where students experience prolonged study schedules, intense peer competition, and separation from families. Forty adolescents aged 15–19 years, identified through the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic framework. Three overarching domains emerged: internalizing problems (academic stress, social withdrawal, low self-esteem), externalizing problems (aggression, attention-seeking, risky behaviours), and environmental influences (family dynamics, peer competition, monotony, lack of mental health support, extended family pressures). The findings reveal that behavioural difficulties are deeply embedded in Kota’s high-pressure academic culture, reinforcing the interactionist view that adolescent behaviour arises from the interplay between personal vulnerabilities and environmental demands. Implications include the need for counselling services in coaching institutes, parental sensitization, and policy-level recognition of academic hubs as high-risk settings. The study highlights urgent directions for targeted, context-sensitive mental health interventions.