Behavioral Challenges Affecting the Adolescents - Essay Example

? Major developmental changes occur during the adolescence stage. With the media portrayal of adolescence as a stage in life marred with drug abuse, school shooting, gang violence and alcohol-related accidents among other vices, it would be critical to evaluate the behavior of adolescents. Thus, this paper evaluates the behavioral challenges in adolescence and gives recommendations on appropriate preventive and therapeutic approaches. Behavioral Challenges Affecting the Adolescents Introduction The adolescent period used to be considered from ages 15 to 18. However, this has steadily expanded over years to include people from as low as 10 to age 25 (Zarret & Eccles, 2006). Mendle, Turkheimer and Emery (2007) attribute this to environmental toxins that mimic or stimulate the action of estrogen in human body thus initiating pubertal onset earlier. Thus, modern man spends a considerable portion of life in adolescence. Due to the difference in the experiences of these adolescents from one part of the world to the other as observed by the American Psychological Association, APA (2002), it has become difficult to come up with a global standard definition of the terminology. However, it has been generally acceptaed that adolescents face behavioral development challenges, with Gullotta and Adams (2005) estimating the affected proportion at 20%. This category informs this paper’s analysis of the behavioral factors that affect the adolescents and subsequent analysis of remedial recommendations. Adolescent Behavioral Challenges Adolescence has been associated with the onset of depression due to the changes being experienced. Gullotta and Adams (2005) observe a lifetime prevalence of between 15% and 20% among adolescents. This particularly affects girls more than it affects the men (Mendle et al., 2007). These researchers attribute this difference to the puberty hormones that could propagate depressive symptoms manifestation. However, although negative affect has been noted to increase with the increase in estrogen during puberty, Zarret and Eccles (2006) also point at the effect of social factors and also the interaction of such hormones with negative life events as contributors to depression in adolescents. This compromises psychosocial relationship of such adolescents who find it difficult to sustain friendships. Another behavior associated with adolescence is eating disorder. The diagnosis of this includes mismatch between weights and height of the adolescent, absence of menstrual periods and irregular menstrual periods. The requirement of a specific body mass index on the onset of adolescence could be precipitated by weight and fat gain (Golden et al., 2003). Adolescents in turn feel dissatisfied with these body changes, particularly noted to be rampant among the girls who become cautious of their body weights thus engaging in restricted eating. Mendle et al. (2007) estimate the proportion of adolescent girls engaged in disordered eating behavior at 19%. Such persons join pro-ana online societies that advocate for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating so as to maintain a slim body. Adolescence, particularly when it sets in early, has been associated with tendencies towards substance abuse, particularly alcohol and smoking. These adolescents tend to even smoke marijuana regularly and experiment with all possible sorts of drugs. According to APA (2002), this behavior does not relate to depressive symptoms or emotional distress. It is actually propagated by psychosocial factors. The contact of such young persons with older persons enhances their chances of substance abuse. It becomes worse when parental guidance misses as such persons listen to whichever elder figure they access as their parents and follow their behavior regardless of social acceptability of such behaviors. Sexual activity has also been greatly associated with adolescence. Biological, psychosocial and selection hypotheses explain these behaviors (Zarret & Eccles, 2006). Girls, particularly the early matures, would be twice more likely to give birth than their late maturing peers (Mendle et al., 2007). Hormones estradiol and testosterone trigger sexual attraction feelings in these adolescents hence their sexual activity. In order to protect themselves from pregnancy, APA (2002) observes that some adolescents could engage in “outercourse” sexual activities, which serve as their alternative to vaginal intercourse (22). Delinquency tendencies tend to be observed in a majority of adolescents given their substance abuse, sexual activity and even depression. They engage in shoplifting, fighting, vandalism, illegal weapon possession and other forms of violation. In spite of the importance of socialization, the selection of peers marks an important aspect in the behavior of adolescents (McLeod, Uemura, & Rohrman, 2012). Adolescents select peers of like minds hence the high chances of propagating their delinquency if not guided in their selection of peers. These behaviors greatly contribute to poor academic achievement. A research study by McLeod et al. (2012) indicates a correlation between substance abuse among adolescents with diminished achievement academically. Similarly, delinquency causes negative effect in educational attainment. Poor academic performance propagates delinquency even in the future. Depression also results in poor academic achievement. Compounded by teen pregnancy, this encourages school drop-outs. The behaviorist theory postulates that the perception of reward from engagement in delinquent behaviors propagates such behavior (Gullotta & Adams, 2005). Adolescents could become more delinquent as they seek acceptance in their peer groups that uphold delinquency. Therefore, adolescence presents a challenging stage in human development in dealing with the behavior of such persons. Recommendations It would be appreciated that adolescence comes with its share of behavioral challenges that need to be dealt with adequately. Developmental theorists advocate for personal assets among these adolescents that would impact positively on their behaviors. Zarret and Eccles (2006) cite the need for confidence in the ability to achieve one’s goals, social connection and master learning tasks as the most important of these assets. These adolescents would need to devise methods of handling their emotions and be engaged in at least one pro-social, faith-based or community organization. Though a majority of the adolescents have these assets, a considerable number have not been presented with an opportunity to acquire such assets. As such, it would be important for their parents, authorities and peers to help them achieve this through various available approaches. Depression, which differs from sadness, interferes with the ability of adolescents to study, sleep, have fun or even eat. It has been noted by APA (2002) to be a major risk factor for suicidal tendencies. Somatic and psychosocial interventions have positive effect in dealing with adolescent depression in a community setting (Gullotta & Adams, 2005). The interpersonal psychotherapy postulates that interpersonal transitions and conflicts trigger and maintain depressive conditions and as such, when this therapy is administered in an outpatient setting, it could provide an appropriate treatment for adolescent depression. For eating disorders, cognitive behavioral therapy has been noted to produce desirable results. Golden et al. (2003) define cognitive behavioral therapy, CBT as a purposeful effort towards the preservation of demonstrated behavior therapy effects within a less dogmatic context and incorporating the cognitive activities on the subject so as to produce therapeutic changes. The gold-standard treatment has been particularly found to be effective in treating personality disorders in adolescents, of which encompasses eating disorders. However, Golden et al. (2003) observe that this approach has been commonly used among the adults and advocate for adequate medical consultation before applying the approach on an adolescent. Further to this, it would be important to conduct mental health evaluation of such persons so as to ensure their mental stability even as this treatment is administered. Adolescents become prone to drug and substance abuse due to peer pressure and their desire to fit in such groupings. Treating drug addiction could be a difficult and costly task hence the importance of adopting preventive approaches. As such, it would be important to engage adolescents in activities that would keep them free from idleness. Productive and highly engaging activities such as sports have been highly recommended by APA (2002). Collaboration plays an important role in controlling adolescent behavior. Gullotta and Adams (2005) define this as an approach where the advisor develops a personal stake in the given advice up to its fruition. Such a person should not be confused as a leader but should be taken as a trusted and active participant. In addition to collaboration, coaching also serves to cause desirable behavior among the adolescents. The advisor in this case works with the adolescent as a personal trainer, instructing such an adolescent on how to behave. The adolescent in this case surrenders to the trainer so as to realize positive behavioral transformation. Ultimately, parental influence remains a strategic approach in shaping the behavior of adolescents to the required standards. Gullotta and Adams (2005) observe the role of parents as social reality conveyors who mould and shape their adolescent children into functional societal participants. They thus serve as teachers of the social norms, conduct managers, behavior models and emotional support providers. Parenting styles and parental behaviors play a critical role in shaping the behavior of adolescents. Conclusion Therefore, adolescence presents a critical stage in human development that entails behavioral changes that could be a challenge not only to the adolescents, but also their parents and community at large. Depression, eating disorder, sexual activity, drug and substance abuse and delinquency are behaviors associated with adolescence that negatively impact on the life of the subjects, including their academic performance. Thus, effective preventive and therapeutic approaches should be adopted to assist the adolescents, including cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, collaboration and coaching and parental influence. References American Psychological Association. (2002). Developing adolescents. Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved 17 November 2013 from http://www.apa.org/pi/families/resources/develop.pdf Golden, N. H., Katzman, D. K., Kreipe, R. E., Stevens, S. L., Sawyer, S. M., Rees, J., et al. (2003). Eating disorders in adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 33, 496 – 503. Gullotta, T. P. & Adams, G. R. (Eds.). (2005). Handbook of adolescent behavioral problems: Evidence-based approaches to prevention and treatment. New York, NY: Springer. McLeod, J. D., Uemura, R., & Rohrman, S. (2012). Adolescent mental health, behavior problems, and academic achievement. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 53 (4), 482 – 497. Mendle, J., Turkheimer, E., & Emery, R. E. (2007). Detrimental psychological outcomes associated with early pubertal timing in adolescent girls. Development Review, 27 (2), 151 – 171. Zarret, N. & Eccles, J. (2006). The passage to adulthood: Challenges of late adolescence. New Directions for Youth Development, 111, 13 – 28. Retrieved 18 November 2013 from http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/49326/179_ftp.pdf&embedded=true?sequence=1 Read More