Transcript Adolescent Psychosocial Problems

Adolescent Psychosocial
Problems
Drug, tobacco, and alcohol use and abuse
Eating disorders
Antisocial behavior and violence
Suicide
Runaways and homeless youth
Some principles...
• Distinguish between occasional experimentation and
enduring patterns of dangerous behavior.
• Distinguish between problems having origins and onset
during adolescence and those having roots in earlier
periods of development.
• Many adolescent problems are brief and are resolved
by early adulthood.
• Problem behavior during adolescence not a direct
consequence of the normative changes of adolescence.
Adolescent drug use and abuse
• Monitoring the Future annual survey
– http://monitoringthefuture.org
• Risk factors
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psychological
conflicted family relationships
social
social context
Protective factors include...
• Positive mental health (e.g., high selfesteem)
• High academic achievement
• Close family relationships
• Involvement in religious activities
Tobacco use
• 33% of 12-17 year olds have tried tobacco.
• Most teens who smoke began before high
school years.
• Antismoking education is critical in
elementary and middle school.
• Contributing factors include advertising,
adult models, peer pressure, need for status.
Alcohol use and abuse
• Most adolescents have experimented with
alcohol.
• 80% of high school seniors have used
alcohol.
• Most do not become problem drinkers.
• Chronic drinking may be genetic or may be
modeled by parents who drink heavily.
Risk factors
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Family history
Religiosity
SES
Place of residence
Social relationships
Peers’ uses
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Juvenile delinquency
Loneliness
TV viewing
Parental support
Deviant behavior
Other family-related
risk factors
Social norms approach
http://www.socialnorm.org
The National Social Norms Research
Center (NIU)
Eating disorders
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Dieting
Anorexia nervosa
Bulimia (binging and purging)
Obesity
Antisocial behavior and violence
• Legacy of Columbine High School.
• Exposure to violence in TV and video
games.
• Adolescents two-and-a-half times more
likely to be victims of crime.
• Homicide second leading cause of death.
Suicide
• warning signs:
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Sudden, unexplained changes in behavior
Changes in sleeping or eating patterns
Loss of interest in usual activities
Social withdrawal
Experiencing a humiliating event
Feelings of guilt or hopelessness
Inability to concentrate
Talking about suicide
Giving away important possessions
Risk factors
• Mental illness and/or biochemical
imbalances
• Substance abuse
• Stresses and chaotic family life
• The availability of lethal means (handgun in
the home)
• Prior suicide attempts
Runaways and homeless youth
• Provide care and support
• Provide additional academic assistance, as
needed
• Provide support for runaway youth
organizations and shelters
• Work with social workers and family
services
• Encourage peer acceptance