There are many issues that the adolescent faces in today’s American society that could bring on anxiety, present challenging problems, and/or require difficult decision-making. Each individual may deal differently with these subjects. For some, the matter may be insignificant, while it becomes a crisis for others or their family. Internet Addiction, also known as computer addiction, online addiction, or Internet addiction disorder (IAD), can be categorized into 5 different areas… Cybersex Addiction – compulsive use of Internet pornography, adult chat rooms, fantasy sex, etc. Cyber-Relationship Addiction – addiction to social networking, chat rooms, texting, and messaging Net Compulsions – such as compulsive online gaming, gambling, stock trading, or use of online auction sites Computer Addiction – obsessive playing of off-line computer games, or obsessive computer programming. Information Overload – compulsive web surfing or database searching Spending a lot of time online or on the computer is defined as ‘an impulse control PROBLEM’ when it absorbs too much of your time, causing you to neglect your relationships, your work, school, or other important things in your life. People become addicted to the internet to relieve unpleasant and overwhelming feelings. Risk factors for Internet or computer addiction include: You suffer from anxiety, you’re depressed, you have any other addictions, you lack social support, you’re an unhappy teenager (more so than other age groups), you’re less mobile or socially active than you once were, or you are stressed. General warning signs that internet use may have become a problem: Losing track of time while online, having trouble completing tasks at work or home, increasing isolation from family and friends, feeling guilty or defensive about your internet use, or feeling a sense of euphoria while involved in Internet activities. Internet or computer addiction can also cause physical discomfort such as: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (pain and numbness in hands and wrists), dry eyes or strained vision, back and/or neck aches, severe headaches, sleep disturbances, or pronounced weight gain/ loss. Young people use drugs, including nicotine and alcohol, for similar reasons that adults do – to change how they feel, because they want to feel better or different. Reasons may include: • • • • Relaxation or fun Boredom Curiosity Socializing with friends, peer pressure or the need to feel part of a group • To escape from psychological or physiological pain. Adolescents are particularly susceptible to substance abuse due to their level of brain development and cognitive thinking. They are still developing the skills needed to make wise judgments, good decisions, and exercise self-control; they are risk takers and don’t thoroughly understand the relationship between actions and consequences; they experiment; they are heavily influenced by mass media and peers; they seek excessive stimulation. The more risk factors an individual has, the greater the chance that taking drugs can lead to addiction. Risk factors include: Biology - genetics, gender, ethnicity, and presence of other mental disorders Social Environment - influences of family and friends, socioeconomic status, quality of life in general, peer pressure, physical and sexual abuse, stress, and quality of parenting Age and Stage of Development - critical developmental stages in a person’s life affect addiction vulnerability; although taking drugs at any age can lead to addiction, the earlier that drug use begins, the more likely it will progress to more serious abuse. PREVENTION IS THE KEY. Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, is an intoxicating ingredient found in beer, wine, and liquor. It is produced by the fermentation of yeast, sugars, and starches. It is a central nervous system depressant that is rapidly absorbed from the stomach and small intestine into the bloodstream. Alcohol is metabolized in the liver by enzymes; however, the liver can only metabolize a small amount of alcohol at a time, leaving the excess alcohol to circulate throughout the body. The intensity of the effect of alcohol on the body is directly related to the amount consumed. People begin smoking for a variety of reasons: peer pressure, social bond with other smokers, they like the risk (adolescents), parental influence, misinformation (‘light’ cigarettes), genetic predisposition, advertising and other media influences, self-medication (for stress), oral satisfaction, and to keep from over-eating or biting nails. Secondhand, passive, or environmental smoke consists of exhaled smoke and smoke given off by the burning end of tobacco products. Inhaling secondhand smoke increases risk for disease, especially respiratory problems. Children exposed to secondhand smoking are at an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome, ear problems, and severe asthma. Children who grow up with parents who smoke are more likely to become smokers. The three main types of eating disorders are: 1. Anorexia: refusal to eat adequate calories out of fear of becoming fat. It can damage major organs, cause irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, pulse, body temperature, and breathing rates, cessation of menstrual cycle, infertility, brittle hair and nails, and thinning of bones. It is fatal in about one out of every 10 cases, usually attributed to cardiac arrest, electrolyte imbalance, or suicide. 2. Bulimia: gross overeating (binging) and then purging (getting rid of) the food. Feeling disgusted and ashamed after overeating, bulimics try to prevent weight gain by inducing vomiting or using laxatives, diet pills, diuretics, or enemas. Stomach acids from chronic vomiting can cause: damage to tooth enamel, inflammation of the esophagus, swelling of salivary glands in the cheeks, and lower blood levels of potassium that can lead to dangerous, abnormal heart rhythms. • • An adolescent who is exposed • to 7 or more risk factors by age • 12 is most likely to join a gang. • Risk factors include: • • • • • • • • • • • • family instability or from single parent homes low economic or poverty status parents who are violent or gang-associated sibling antisocial behavior low educational aspiration low commitment/attachment to school high levels of antisocial behavior low achievement test scores and/or grades the identity of being learning disabled associating with law-violating peers early use of alcohol and marijuana prior delinquency hyperactivity early sexual activity being male hostility, aggression and rule breaking feeling unsafe in your neighborhood Youth treatment and rehabilitation plans provide for physical, emotional, religious, educational, and social development. They provide the youth with the following opportunities: • • • • • • • • • drug and alcohol assessment/education/treatment pre-vocational exposure and training mental health/social services problem solving skills education social skills treatment for sexual trauma recreation spiritual development Risk factors for juvenile delinquency: • Low parental involvement • Low parental education and income • Parental substance abuse or criminality • Poor monitoring and supervision of children • Poverty • High level of transiency • Attention deficits, hyperactivity or learning disorders • History of early aggressive behavior • Involvement with gangs, drugs, alcohol or tobacco • Low IQ or poor academic performance • Poor behavioral control or emotional distress • Association with delinquent peers • Antisocial beliefs and attitudes or social rejection • Exposure to violence and conflict in the family • Harsh, lax or inconsistent disciplinary practices Because self-injury is often done impulsively, it can be considered an impulse-control behavior problem. Self-injury may be linked to a variety of mental disorders, such as depression, eating disorders and borderline personality disorder. Self-injury may bring a momentary sense of calm and a release of tension, but is usually followed by guilt and shame and the return of painful emotions. And with selfinjury comes the possibility of more serious and even fatal self-aggressive actions. Chemical imbalance in the brain, hormones, inherited traits, early childhood trauma, or learned patterns of negative thinking. Also: • • • • • • • • • Having an anxiety or eating disorder Having few friends/personal relationships Abusing alcohol, nicotine or other drugs Having low self-esteem or being overly dependent, self-critical or pessimistic Having self-esteem issues such as obesity, peer problems, long-term bullying or academic problems Having a chronic medical illness such as cancer, diabetes or asthma Having been the victim or witness of physical/sexual abuse or violence Being a girl — depression occurs more often in females than in males Being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender — becoming socially isolated or experiencing bullying may increase the risk of depression • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Agitation or restlessness Use of alcohol or drugs Exaggerated self-blame or self-criticism Poor school performance or attendance Tiredness, loss of energy, insomnia or sleeping too much Feelings of sadness and/or crying spells for no apparent reason Irritability, frustration or feelings of anger, even over small matters Loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities, family and friends Feelings of worthlessness, guilt, fixation on past failures Trouble with memory, thinking, concentrating, decision-making Frequent thoughts of death, dying, suicide, or grim future Changes in appetite, dramatic weight loss or gain Frequent complaints of unexplained body aches and headaches Neglected appearance Disruptive or risky behavior Self-injury, such as cutting, burning, excessive piercing or tattooing About 8 out of 10 pregnancies among adolescents are either unplanned or occurred before the adolescents were ready to be parents. One in six (18%) 15-year-old females in the U.S. will give birth by her 20th birthday. Abstinence from sexual intercourse is the most effective way to prevent unplanned pregnancies. In order to avoid unplanned pregnancies, it is essential for adolescents who are sexually active to use effective contraceptives every time they have sex. But only about 1/4th of teens use contraceptives the first time they have sex… because that would be an indication or admitting it was ‘planned’. Out of all teen pregnancies, 57% end in birth. Another 14% end in miscarriage (self-abortion). 29% end in abortion (medical termination). • Eight out of 10 teen dads don’t marry the mother of their child. • Only 1 in 5 mothers receive child support from a teen father, statistically less than $800 annually. • Teen fathers earn 10 to 15 percent less annually (life-long) than men who wait to have children. • Teen dads are less likely to finish high school than their peers. • Teen fathers are more likely to get involved with criminal behavior, including alcohol and drug abuse. • Children who don't live with their fathers are five times more likely to be poverty-stricken than children with both parents at home. • Unmarried fathers have rights and responsibilities concerning custody, visitation and child support until the child is 18, but they will need to take legal action to obtain these rights and responsibilities. There are almost twice as many deaths in the first year of life than there are in the next 13 years total. Then, the death rate rises rapidly following puberty because of the top 3 causes of death: deadly accidents, homicides, and suicides. Automobile accidents account for the largest number of accidental deaths, followed by drowning, fire, falls, and poisoning. Adolescents may be more accident prone. This could be a physical, emotional, or social issue. Influential factors: • Teens tend to be impulsive, stressed, and easily distracted, which could lead to accidents. • Some are pushing themselves physically, in order to excel in sports, etc. This can lead to poor judgment, over-extending themselves, and sports injuries. • Some teens deal with growth spurts that leave them feeling clumsy and uncoordinated… and prone to accidents. • Adolescents are risk takers. • Adolescents imagine that they are the center of attention, and that everyone is watching them. This causes some teens to take more risks, in order to impress their peers. Bullying includes harassment, physical harm, repeatedly demeaning speech and efforts to ostracize another person. Bullying is active, and is done with the intention of bringing another person down. There are different kinds of bullying: Physical bullying: domination by kicking, punching and other physically harmful activities, designed to instill fear or coerce the victim to do something. Verbal bullying: using demeaning language to tear down another's self-image; teasing, belittling, and using sarcasm to hurt the other person's feelings or humiliate them in front of others. Emotional bullying: often subtle; aimed at getting someone else to feel isolated, alone and depressed. Electronic or cyber bullying: using instant messaging, cell phone text messages and online social networks to humiliate and embarrass others. Nearly 30 percent of teenagers in the U.S. have been involved in bullying, either as a bully or as a victim of bullying. Effects of teenage bullying: • Obvious physical problems and injuries that can result from physical bullying. • Emotional, verbal and cyber bullying can deeply affect teens, leading to depression, suicide, drug use, isolation, and long-term stunted social development. • In some cases, bullied teens have violently reacted to their tormentors in retaliation. • • • • • • Why Do People Bully? In a culture fascinated with winning, power, and violence, bullying is an acceptable way of getting what you want. If the home, the school, or the workplace does not have high standards for the way people treat each other, then bullying may be more likely. Mass media promotes a lack of personal and social skills, and turns them into comedy and reality TV. Home environments that are not warm and loving, that don’t encourage sharing of feelings, or one in which discipline and monitoring are inconsistent are perfect for raising bullies. Children who experience social rejection or academic failure themselves are more likely to "pass it on" to others. Some people bully others to have power. Many youth begin paid employment by age 12 in their own neighborhoods, shoveling snow, mowing yards, babysitting, and doing odd jobs. By age 16 they may have more formal jobs, working in fast food restaurants, in retail and service sectors, and grocery stores. Researchers across disciplines have studied adolescent employment, including psychologists, sociologists, and economists. There appears to be pros and cons to that employment. Youth themselves report that employment is good for them, citing the acceptance of responsibility, development of time-management skills, overcoming shyness with adults, and handling money. Employment makes them feel more like adults. One of the most visible signs of changing cultural norms for today's adolescents has been the movement of body art into the mainstream. Once considered a mark of a rebel or outcast, tattoos and numerous body piercings have become very common, almost a rite of passage for teenagers. The adolescent concepts of ‘personal fable’ and ‘imaginary audience’ are strongly supported by a teen’s expression through body art. Teens use body art for social bonding with a peer group, identity formation, or to commemorate a friend or loved one. They view tattoos and body piercings as true beautification. Teenagers who are members of ethnic/racial minorities are the most vulnerable to cultural conflicts. They may be ‘stereotyped’: a widely-held but over-simplified image or idea of a particular type of person. They may be the target of ‘prejudice’: a preconceived opinion or bias that is not based on reason, fact, or actual experience. They may experience ‘discrimination’: unjust or prejudicial treatment of various categories of people on the grounds of ethnic background, race, age, or sex. Ethnic identity refers to ‘country of origin’, religious origin, where your ancestors lived, etc. Examples: American, Canadian, German, Irish, Chinese, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, etc. Racial identity may be the same as ethnic identity, but includes definite phenotypes: observable characteristics of an individual, such as skin color, hair type and color, eye shape, etc. Examples: Black, Caucasian, Hispanic, Asian, American Indian, etc. Children become aware of their ethnic/racial differences, but maturing adolescents express pride in their heritage and comfort in their sense of belonging to a group. An acceptance and appreciation of diversity and all cultural differences is the key to avoiding conflict and being respectful of all people as individuals. Sexual orientation is part of the identity ‘crisis’ of adolescence, and is a term frequently used to describe a person’s romantic, emotional or sexual attraction to another person. A person attracted to another person of the same sex is said to have a homosexual orientation and may be called gay (both men and women) or lesbian. Individuals attracted to persons of the other sex are said to have a heterosexual orientation. Individuals who are attracted to both men and women are said to be bisexual. Same sex behavior has always existed; it is not a mental illness. Reasons for it are still unknown. Sexual orientation does develop across a person’s lifetime. Individuals maybe become aware at different points in their lives that they are heterosexual, gay, lesbian, or bisexual. “Coming out” is the term used to describe the experience in which a person identifies himself or herself as gay, lesbian or bisexual. Fears and misunderstandings about homosexuality present challenges to the development and maintenance of a positive self-image in gay, lesbian and bisexual persons and often to their families as well. “Homophobia” is a term that refers to the irrational fear and prejudice against homosexual persons. Hate crimes are prevalent. Gay and lesbian adolescents are often taunted and humiliated in their school settings. Many professional persons and employees in all occupations are still fearful of identifying as gay or lesbians in their work settings. Some states are now legally recognizing gay rights and marriages. Adolescent choices in appearance might include Clothing fashions Accessories Hair styles Nail art Body art Shoe styles Cosmetics Skin tones, etc.
