Stress and Coping Strategies among Adolescent Girls Regarding Pubertal Changes: A Cross-Sectional Study in Selected Schools of Jabalpur City

Adolescence is a dynamic and transitional phase in human development marked by rapid physiological, psychological, and social changes.Among these, puberty represents a critical biological milestone where children begin to develop secondary sexual characteristics and gain reproductive maturity.For girls, this phase is typically characterized by the onset of menarche, breast development, growth spurts, and a range of hormonal changes that influence emotional and cognitive functioning. [1]These transformations, though natural, often come with confusion, anxiety, and emotional stress -particularly when not accompanied by appropriate education, support, or understanding.The World Health Organization defines adolescence as the age between 10 and 19 years, during which individuals undergo dramatic transitions from childhood to adulthood.For girls, pubertal changes usually commence between the ages of 8 and 13 years and are completed by around 15-17 years. [2]hile the sequence of physiological changes remains fairly