The Reciprocal Relationship Between Awe and Perceived Stress Among Chinese Early Adolescents: A Cross-Lagged Analysis

Stress among adolescents is a growing concern due to its adverse effects on health and social functioning, especially in China. Awe is related to relief of daily stress and reduction of stress-related symptoms. However, existing research related to perceived stress in Chinese adolescents has not considered awe; moreover, the possible influence of perceived stress on the tendency to feel awe is poorly understood. This study used two-wave cross-lagged analysis to explore the relationship between awe and perceived stress among Chinese adolescents. Three hundred and fifty Chinese middle school students aged 13 to 16 completed the Dispositional Awe Scale and Perceived Stress Scale questionnaires twice, with 3 months between responses. Results show that awe predicts lower levels of perceived stress over time, and perceived stress predicts lower levels of awe, supporting the idea of a reciprocal relationship between the two. This suggests potential practical interventions for stress management in Chinese adolescents.