The Mediating Role of Mental Health in the Relationship between Social Adversity and Externalizing Behaviors among Pakistani Adolescents

Adolescence is a critical developmental stage clear by profound emotional, psychological, and social revolutions. During this period, experience to social adversity such as economic hardship, parental conflict and health differences can significantly weaken mental well-being and rise the likelihood of maladaptive behaviors. The current study scrutinized the influence of social adversity and mental health challenges on externalizing behaviors among adolescents, with aggression, delinquency, and social discourtesy. Using a sample of 350 students aged 14 to 19 from the University of Gujrat and affiliated colleges and data were collected through structured questionnaires judging social adversity, mental health problems, and externalizing behavior. Results indicated that both social adversity and mental health complications significantly predicted externalizing behaviors, with mental health effective partially mediating the relationship between hostile social conditions and behavioral products. These results highlight the importance of addressing psychosocial stressors and endorsing psychological resilience in adolescents. Early, targeted interferences that concurrently tackle environmental hardships and mental health weaknesses are essential to mitigate behavioral risks and increase adolescent well-being in the Pakistani context.