GP-IR 2, FAMILY does the relationship between parents and their adolescents impact the identity of the adolescent? INTRODUCTIONParents nurture their children from birth to adulthood, but they often don't understand that for the children to flourish, they must be allowed to experience the real world. It can be difficult for parents to let go, especially when it involves releasing a child who has always been protected from the harsh realities of the world and now must confront those realities. The idea of their child drifting away can be unsettling and the separation can be a source of concern. The relationship between parents and their adolescents plays a significant role in shaping the identity of the adolescent. Adolescence is a critical period of development, during which individuals form a sense of self and develop their unique identities. The relationship between parents and adolescents has been shown to influence a range of outcomes, including academic achievement, emotional well-being, and the formation of a positive sense of self. Teenage identity is a concept that refers to the sense of self that develops during adolescence, a period of significant psychological and social change. Teenagers go through a process of exploring and defining their personal values, beliefs, and interests, and form a unique identity based on these experiences. This identity includes their perception of themselves, their relationships with others, and their place in the world. During this time, teenagers also face many challenges and pressures, including peer pressure, societal expectations, and the need to establish independence from their parents. PRIVACY- Adolescents require respect for their privacy and personal space. Giving them room to grow is critical during this challenging time of life, as they undergo significant physical and mental changes that they may not fully understand. Being subjected to bullying, either at school or by their own bodies, can make it difficult for them to develop independence and selfconfidence. However, their confidence can be boosted by their parents' trust and belief in them, and by providing them with a private space where they feel comfortable. As their brains develop, they begin to comprehend their place in the world and what they want to pursue(Radhakrishnan, Uttekar, page 3). The importance of privacy during physical changes is often overlooked, but providing a space where adolescents can lock the door without objection strengthens the trust they need. FAMILY CONFLICTFamily conflict is widespread and every family faces various problems and disputes. Family members may argue, engage in abuse, stop communicating, get divorced or separated, become nuclear families, or children may move out. All of these experiences are considered traumatic. From a child's perspective, witnessing parents fight regularly, including shouting and using harsh language, can leave a lasting impact. Having conflicts with other family members is also damaging, especially when negative comments are made about someone they love and consider family. Financial issues, particularly in a joint family business, can also lead to distressing moments of conflict over money. Adolescents desire a secure and unrestricted home environment. Feeling supported by their parents strengthens their trust and self-assurance, and the comfort of knowing they have support can create a sense of safety. However, when their safe haven, the place they call home, becomes the source of fear and insecurity, it can have a damaging impact on their mental health. Conflicts between parents can cause stress, anxiety, anger, and fear, leading to sleep disturbances and difficulties in school, hindering the adolescent's life skills and risking their future. The trauma of this stage in life can result in future conflicts, such as poor interpersonal skills and a lack of social competence. Parental conflicts can stem from various reasons, including financial difficulties, disagreements between parental sides, and different parenting styles, but a major contributing factor is a misogyny, sexism, and issues surrounding pregnancy. The trauma of experiencing conflict at home can lead to difficulties with interpersonal skills and social competence in the future. Misogyny and sexism are among the many reasons for parental conflict, and these issues can have a profound impact on the mental health of adolescents. It's essential for parents to address and resolve their conflicts in a healthy manner to ensure the well-being of their children. MISOGYNY TOXICGrowing up in a household where traditional gender roles are strictly upheld can have a significant impact on a child's development and future relationships. Children who are taught that men are the superiors and should have all the power while women should only handle household work may struggle to adjust to the realities of the world outside of their homes. This can lead to a lack of self-awareness and confidence in girls and an inability to form healthy relationships and communicate effectively in boys. Without education or exposure to different perspectives, a girl may not realize her abilities and capacity to work, and a boy may not understand how to treat his future partner or manage stress in a healthy manner. It's crucial for children to be taught that this type of thinking is not representative of the real world and that everyone, regardless of gender, has equal rights and opportunities. It's essential for families to promote gender equality and help children understand that everyone, has the ability to contribute and make a difference in the world. EXPECTATIONS AND INSULTSAdolescence can be a challenging time, and parental expectations and demands can add to that stress. While supportive expectations that provide guidance and encouragement can be helpful, unreasonable or unrealistic demands can harm an adolescent's mental health. When expectations are communicated openly, it can give the adolescent a sense of belonging and importance, but when they feel threatened or unable to meet those expectations, it can lower self-esteem and lead to depression and self-isolation. This stage of development is crucial and parents need to understand that they play a major role in supporting their child through this time. With the emotional changes and identity formation that occur during adolescence, it's important for parents to act as a support system and source of security, rather than adding to their emotional stress. While the adolescent's behaviour and attitude may change, parents should remember that they are there to provide guidance and support, and avoid saying things that may be taken too seriously and contribute to overthinking and emotional trauma. Threatening adolescents with ultimatums without following through can cause them to fear their parents and question their sense of belonging. Using empty threats towards adolescents can damage their trust in their parents, creating fear and insecurity instead of guidance and causing them to avoid confiding in their parents. Direct threats, physical punishment, bringing in outsiders for comparison or shame, attacking their character with blanket statements, and bribing them to comply are all damaging behaviours that can harm the bond between parent and child and make them feel unsupported. These actions can lead to decreased motivation, a breakdown in communication, and a loss of pride. A positive relationship with parents involves mutual respect, understanding, and support. Bringing in a third party, such as a family member or teacher to compare or shame the child, can break the bond of trust and make their home feel like an unsafe space. Comparing them to their siblings or to the parent's own childhood can make the adolescent feel judged. Using phrases like "you never," "you always," or "you constantly" can make the adolescent feel underestimated and kill their motivation. Finally, using bribery as a way to get a child to follow through only puts more pressure on them and if they fail, it takes away their pride. Relationships with parents can also be damaged by insults from the parent. The results of a survey conducted by the Times of India offer a clear picture of the six most prevalent unrealistic expectations that parents have. It is important to remember that parents may not always have a complete understanding of their adolescent's life. Adolescents may keep certain aspects of their life private, or they may experience challenges that their parents are not aware of. Additionally, adolescents may not be the same person they were ten years ago. Adolescents often face expectations such as always being happy, having good behaviour, and being perfect in school. However, these expectations are unrealistic and can be damaging to their mental health. It is important for parents to understand that their children may have bad days, may not always be in a good mood, and may make mistakes. A supportive and non-judgmental environment can help prevent lying and protect the child's mental health. CHILD ABUSE=GLOBAL ISSUE Child abuse is a pervasive and under-discussed global issue that takes many forms beyond physical abuse. It encompasses neglect, leaving a child feeling worthless and in danger. The scars of child abuse are not only physical, but also emotional, causing damage to a child's self-esteem, future relationships, school and home performance, and mental health. Child abuse leaves adolescents feeling alone, uncared for, and unsafe, and has long-lasting impacts on their psychological, emotional, physical, social, and behavioural health. It brings on anxiety, depression, sleeping and eating disorders, and difficulty in maintaining healthy relationships. In addition, child abuse can cause behavioural changes, such as clinginess, aggression, violence, or risk-taking. Physically, scars from belt marks, bite marks, and genital injuries never fade and constantly remind the child of their past trauma. Brain development is also affected, leading to difficulties with speech and language, learning disorders, and regression of skills, according to doctors Rohini Radhakrishnan and Pallavi Utterkar MD. Childhood trauma is a term that is often associated with child abuse, and it is looked back upon as a reason for issues such as PTSD, ADHD, behavioural problems, and physical health issues, including addiction to drugs or alcohol. Child abuse never fades away, it becomes a permanent part of a child's journey and has a profound impact on their future. CONCLUSION- COPING METHODS The relationship between parents and adolescents has a significant impact on the adolescent's identity. Positive relationships between parents and adolescents can be built through various ways, such as demonstrating love and affection, showing pride in their accomplishments, having regular family traditions, and spending quality one-on-one time together (Braucher, page 7). Additionally, setting boundaries, rules, and responsibilities, while also showing appreciation and support, can create a sense of security and contribute to the adolescent's sense of belonging in the family. By providing structure and predictability, adolescents can better understand their place in the family and develop a strong sense of identity. Providing support to your adolescent and being their safe space proves a supportive and close relationship preventing risky behaviours and mentality issues such as depression and the support and interest shown to the child in their academic boost their confidence to do better. Med India has provided some coping methods for toxic family dynamics such as, writing down feelings and journaling, engaging in hobbies as a distraction, seeking personal support, setting boundaries and identifying maturity, focusing on themselves and knowing that child Protective Services UNICEF, as well as laws, are always there to protect them. UNICEF and the government of India have currently been coming up with new laws such as the ‘new advocates bill 2021’ which aims to protect the advocates of India and remove intimidation, this law has been made due to the recent spike in the number of assaults, kidnappings, threats resulting in the government providing sufficient protection, Social Security plus bare necessities of life (Khumari, page 1) REFLECTIONMy interpretation of all the research done by me, teenage identity is a complex and multifaceted concept, shaped by various factors such as peers, media, and family. In this stage of life, teenagers are exploring and discover who they are, and as they transition into young adults, they are developing their own beliefs and values. Parental relationships play a crucial role in shaping a teenager's identity and self-esteem in my opinion, A supportive and loving family environment can help a teenager feel valued, respected and secure, while an abusive or neglectful one can have long-lasting damaging effects on their mental and emotional well-being. Child abuse, whether physical or emotional, can have devastating effects on a teenager's self-esteem and sense of worth. Abusive parents often use insults and criticism to control and manipulate their children, leading to low self-esteem and a negative self-image. These experiences can have a lasting impact on a teenager's future relationships and ability to trust others. On the other hand, high parental expectations can also be damaging to a teenager's identity and self-esteem. Parents who place unreasonable expectations on their children, whether it be in academics, sports, or extracurricular activities, can lead to feelings of pressure and stress. This can cause teenagers to question their abilities and doubt themselves, negatively affecting their self-esteem and sense of identity. In conclusion, my final opinion being that teenage identity is shaped by many factors, including parental relationships. A supportive and loving family environment is essential for building a strong sense of self and self-esteem in teenagers. Child abuse and high parental expectations can have damaging effects and should be addressed to help teenagers develop a positive sense of self. SOURCE EVALUATIONThere are several sources that have helped me change my perspective on the role of parental relationships in shaping a teenager's identity. Firstly, personal experiences with my own family and friends have allowed me to see the wide range of experiences and dynamics that exist within familial relationships. This has given me a deeper understanding of the impact that family relationships can have on a teenager's self-esteem and identity. Secondly, reading articles, books and research studies on the topic of child abuse and parental expectations has allowed me to better understand the long-lasting effects of these experiences on a teenager's mental and emotional well-being. This has heightened my awareness of the importance of creating a supportive and loving environment for teenagers, and the damaging impact of abusive or neglectful relationships. SOURCES1. Halpern, Hillary Paul, and Maureen Perry-Jenkins. “Parents’ Gender Ideology and Gendered Behaviour as Predictors of Children’s Gender-Role Attitudes: A Longitudinal Exploration.” Sex Roles, vol. 74, no. 11-12, 9 Sept. 2015, pp. 527–542, 2. 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