Social Support Applied to Adolescent Mothers - Essay Example

? Social Support Applied to Adolescent Mothers Social Support Applied to Adolescent Mothers Introduction and concept Adolescent stage is a transitional stage where a person develops secondary sexual characteristics. The development of an individual at this stage is complex. It is apparent that a combination of complex parenting roles and complexities in adolescent stage can pose developmental outcomes and health risks to adolescent mothers and their young ones. In many cases, the description given to adolescent mothers with a view to their deficits describe them as poor, undereducated, unlikely to secure employment, lack skills for solving problems and emotional development (Black & Ford-Gilboe, 2003). Adolescent mothers are likely to face negative views owing to their single status and sexual activity. Family issues often influence emotional response, spiritual well being, and physical aspects of individual life (Black & Ford-Gilboe, 2003). Erickson’s psychosocial theory describes adolescent stage as a period where individuals are able to make their own decisions based on their own opinions. However, theory asserts that early development stages are responsible for behavioral responses observed in an individual at later stages in life (Bredow & Peterson, 2008). Largely, the concept of family role in character development influences almost every stage of an individual. Parental attachment at early stages in life influences later responses that an individual would have in life. It is imperative that family support to adolescent mothers should take a centre role in shaping the lives of the young mothers. Studies indicate that families develop skills for solving problems in matters of health based on lifestyle patterns and response style given to illnesses (Bredow & Peterson, 2008). This is a great challenge that adolescent mothers are likely to experience because they have not grown enough to develop skills for solving problems or experienced challenges in parenting. Social support intervention to adolescent mothers is very essential because it enhances growth to the adolescent mothers. Studies have indicated that support offered to adolescent mothers in terms of parenting practices indicates that adolescent mothers are keen to learn their children’s needs in healthcare ((Black & Ford-Gilboe, 2003). Notably, adolescent mothers tend to rely on social support in coping with challenges that they may face. Experts in the health sector believe that family life shapes human health (Bornstein, 2002). This argument is true when one considers how family attachment influences development and growth. Issues that contribute to increase in individual stress level influence general health of an individual. Health behavior is an outcome of good practices, which aim at promoting healthy practices (Gee & Rhodes, 2007). Factors which promote healthy living among adolescent mothers include objective self-concept, social support, self-efficacy, physical environment, and parental attention. It is apparent that adolescent mothers still need guidance because they are in transition to adulthood. Psychosocial theory argues that healthy living is a concept that an individual develops through establishing and building close and intimate relationships. On the other hand, family theory argues that healthy living in adolescent stage translates into healthy adulthood. Middle Range Theory combines factors in family theory, psychosocial theory, and comprehensive factors, when discussing the concept of healthy living (Bornstein, 2002). Notably, theory assumes that improving mental and physical health of an individual within one’s environment would create a healthy functional individual. The concept address factors that present limitation to an individual, such as social, mental, physical, familial, or financial and how an individual would lead a healthy life amid these limitations (Bornstein, 2002). It is arguable that psychological theories and family theories provide crucial information used to construct a functional and healthy individual within the concept of the family; they are inadequate in describing a complete picture of healthy and functional family. Patient situation Rosena is a 17-year-old adolescent mother complaining of the following symptoms in the clinic: restlessness, lack of sleep, irritation, headache, and tearfulness. The nurse practitioner questions her resent changes in diet, exercise or increased stressors. Rosena explains that her parents have rejected her boy friend who impregnated her two years ago. Recently her parents threatened to withdraw their support to Rosena and her child. Further, she explains that she succumb to postern depression during her early months of pregnancy when she could not accept her pregnancy condition. Her parents took her for therapy and she took two weeks in hospital bed. Her boyfriend’s dad rejected her relationship with Mike when the news spread that Mike had impregnated her. Mike is still in college, does not have a job, and he gets his support from his parents. Rosena’s parents had been contemplating taking her back to school, although she feels that she is comfortable with her current situation. Her parents have been supportive to her, accepting her conditions and providing guidance and financial support whenever necessary. On some occasions, her parents take her to medical professionals for therapy and check up. Rosena still enjoys love of her family members, especially her mother, who keeps on monitoring her life conditions. In many occasions at home, Rosena has always engaged in adolescent games with her neighbors even after bearing a child. Rosena’s brother often takes her out to meet with other high school friends during dinners. Family and social details It is evident that even though Rosena had got pregnant at 15 years, her family provided supportive care to her and her child. She is living at her home with a baby. Her parents supported her baby financially and offered social support through the advance care to Rosena. However, her parents have disapproved her choice for her boyfriend Mike. Largely, her parents felt that she should acquire education, which can sustain her life in future. This is where conflicts begin. Although Rosena became pregnant at an early age, the parents did not show any negative approach that could have affected Rosena. The threat by her family members that they will disown her if she continues her relationship with Mike seems to create a lot of tension to Rosena. Owing to her situation, she is likely to face hard time when her family does not offer any support. She is merely a high school dropout who cannot secure any meaningful employment to sustain her own life. Socially, Rosena has friends from the neighborhood who keep her company. Sometimes she engages in youthful jokes without thinking that she is a mother. Mike loves Rosena, but Mike’s parents are not willing to let Rosena into their home. Rosena enjoys social adventures with her brother who still feels that she is still in her adolescent. It is apparent that Rosena is socially active and does enjoy her life to the fullest. Due to support from her family and friends, Rosena attends social gathering and dinner parties that characterized her teenage life before she gave birth. However, the feeling that Rosena develops whenever she thinks of her future with Mike has always been devastating. She often experiences mood change, which affects her attention to her little Tony. She does not plan to marry any man except Mike. References Black, C. & Ford-Gilboe, M. (2003). Adolescent mothers: resilience, family health work and health-promoting practices. Retrieved on 15 Mar 2012 from http://www.worldwideopen.org/uploads/resources/files/800/RES004_Adolescent_Mothers_Resilience_Family_Health.pdf Bornstein, H. M. (2002). Handbook of Parenting: Being and becoming a parent, Volume 3. London: Routledge. Bredow, S. T. & Peterson, J. S. (2008). Middle range theories: application to nursing research. Maryland: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Gee, B. C. & Rhodes, J. E. (2007). A social support and social strain measure for minority adolescent mothers: a confirmatory factor analytic study. Retrieved on 15 Mar 2012 from http://www.rhodeslab.org/files/GeeRhodesSS.pdf Read More