Date of Award

Spring 2026

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Department

Public Health

First Advisor

Brie Turner-McGrievy

Abstract

This study examined adolescents’ perceptions of their social, cultural, and health-related experiences, assessing constructs related to identity formation, digital exposure, belonging, and safety among Generation Alpha. Using a mixed-methods design, data were collected from students aged 11 to 14 enrolled at a public middle school in South Carolina using a structured survey and qualitative group discussions. Survey findings indicated primarily positive perceptions of school safety and a sense of self-efficacy in caring for their mental health and well-being. However, qualitative findings disclosed the adolescents’ acute awareness of environmental threats, such as gun violence and school shootings, resulting in emotional dysregulation associated with digital environments.

The integration of quantitative and qualitative findings suggests that participants’ positive perceptions coexist with underlying environmental stressors and the coping mechanisms the adolescents adopt. Despite reporting positive perceptions of school safety, participants' discussions indicate a normalized anticipation of violent threats among adolescents and a psychological need to develop survival strategies in response. Similarly, the adolescents described confidence in their ability to care for their mental health and well-being while acknowledging emotional dysregulation resulting from manipulative digital content, like rage baiting and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Additionally, participants maintain socially functional relationships with peers and adults, while frequently reporting feelings of misbelonging and concerns about their social interactions.

Findings suggest that adolescents’ perceptions of safety, belonging, and well-being are influenced by the complexity of social, digital, and institutional contexts, rather than by their individual interactions alone. This study highlights the importance of identifying digital environments as a social determinant of health affecting adolescents during a critical period of development, and of understanding how chronic stressors influence the adolescent experience. To better understand this period of biological, cognitive, and social transitions, it is necessary to understand the context in which adolescents live from their perspectives. Implications include the need for public health strategies that strengthen institutional trust and societal connectedness while promoting healthy, adaptive coping mechanisms that protect populations from morbidity and mortality. This study contributes to emerging research on Generation Alpha by centering adolescents’ lived experiences.

Rights

© 2026, Bria D. Singleton

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