Author(s): Dr. Sheeba Parveen, Dr. Ansar Ahmad

Abstract: Literature has always been a medium of social exploration and articulation and through literary narratives such experiences and issues related to the psychology and mental health of students are explored and articulated. In contemporary time period students face issues such as academic competition, social expectations, pressure of making successful future, social comparison, identity conflict and anxiety related issues. Therefore students’ mental health becomes very essential and significant concern in contemporary time period. This paper examines students psychological and emotional vulnerability, anxiety disorder and identity conflict in selected contemporary literary narratives and also reflects upon contemporary youth culture. This study argues that when students face pressure of social expectations that demand success and confirmity, they go through anxiety, identity conflict and psychological disorder. Sylvia Plath’s novel ‘The Bell Jar’ (1963) and John Green’s ‘Turtles All Thee Way Down’ (2017) have been taken for this study. Both these literary narratives deal with the inner psychological conflict and anxiety disorder faced by the young protagonists of the novels. This paper articulates on the topic from the theoretical perspective of cultural and identity theory, particularly theory of Identity given by Erik Erikson and the concept of discourse developed by Michel Foucoult. Through the characters of the protagonists, the author has tried to articulate on the negotiation of social expectations and the sense of self and identity. There is portrayal of stigma surrounding mental health. This paper depicts how literature plays a vital role in promoting empathy and awareness about psychological problems faced by students and emphasize upon the possibility of recovery and healing from mental health struggles. This paper also offers symbolic representation of isolation and depression and reflects upon conflict and anxiety disorder, created by too many life expectations and possibilities in student life.

Keywords: Mental health, identity conflict, contemporary literature, social and cultural expectations, anxiety disorder, contemporary youth culture.

Article Info: Received: 29 Mar 2026; Received in revised form: 25 Apr 2026; Accepted: 27 Apr 2026; Available online: 03 May 2026

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.113.2