ADOLESCENCE AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES

AUTHOR: KUTHER, TARA L

TITLE: ADOLESCENCE AT RISK A LITERATURE REVIEW OF PROBLEMS,

ATTITUDES AND INTERVENTIONS

PUB DATE:95

NOTE:41PP

PUB TYPE: INFORMATION ANALYSIS

DESCRIPTIONS: ADOLESCENCES, CHILD ABUSE, DELINQUENCY, DRUG

ABUSE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, SUICIDE, CHILD MAL TREATMENT.

ABSTRACT:

Adolescence has often been constructed as the most difficult period

in life. During this period, most of the teens are subjected to invisible
stress and storm. It is also estimated that nearly 25%-50% of the
students both girls and boys are engaged in risk behaviour with bad
health and changes in behaviour with bad health and changes in
behaviour topics covered in this literature review are:-Child
Maltreatment ,Substance Abuse, Sexual harassment and Suicide.

Adolescence has often been termed as a period of great risk to

healthy development. The transition from junior high school to high
school is especially troubling for young adolescents. During this
transition, there is an increase in reporting of several problems such
as depression, suicidal thought, and substance use Dryfoos (1991)
approximated that one in four children, or 7 million children are in
need of immediate intensive intervention for high-risk behaviour.

Many explanations have been offered in an attempt to explain

adolescent risk-taking. Perhaps teens do not understand the risks
that they are taking. According to this logic, once children
understand the facts, that they will change their behaviour. On
perhaps Adolescents understand ,but ignore, or greatly
underestimate the likelihood of negative consequences to their
behaviour

CHILD TREATMENT:-

Abuse is mostly prevelant in terms and is often a predictor of other

problems. According to a few Sociologists, there were more than 5L
cases of adolescent physical and sexual abuse reported in 1986.Few
of the sociologists opined that the number was underestimated to
the actual number. It must be noted that prevalence research is
affected by difference in the definition of abuse,the inclusion or
exclusion of experiences involving age peers, and the use of different
criteria for incidents occurring during adolescence.

Abused adolescents have more problems with vocational educational

goals and their ability to master the environment. Many so called
‘acting-out’ behaviours such as running away, teruancy and
substance abuse are reported as sequelae of adolescent sexual
abuse. Abused adolescents are more likely than non-abused to
report illait drug abuse. Like all adolescent problems, it is difficult to
separate the outcomes of abuse with those of general family
dysfuction, pre-existing physchopathology and stress.

DELINQUENCY:

The second behaviour problem that was found common among

adolescents is delinquency. Delinquency has been described as a
typical developments phase for many adolescents
(DiL’alla&Gottesman ,1914)Delinquency acts range from mild to
severe and include truancy, vandalism, theft and violence.

SUBSTANCE USE:

Substance use include tobacco, alcohol, drugs like delinquency,

adolescent smoking, drinking alcohol and substance use is a serious
health problem. It is estimated that 8%of high school seniors smoke
daily(This is the result of survey by Miller&Slap,1989).Farrell et
al(1982) surveyed 4th graders and found that 23%males and 22%
females had smoked in past 30 days. Peers are influential in the
initiation of smoking, which is more common among adolescent girls
compared to boys.

SUICIDE:
It is another interrelated problem in adolescence Suicide is the
leading cause of death of adolescents. Since 1957, the suicide rate
for 15-24 year old’s has more than tripled, the largest increase has
been between the ages of 15-19. Youth suicides are higher among
whites than African-Americans. Over the past twenty years, the rate
for while adolescent males has increased more dramatically than
that of African-American adolescent males.

CONCLUSION:

Many adolescents engage in high risk behaviours such as

Delinquency, Substance use and Suicide. There are many studies that
attempt to quality the extent to which adolescents engage in these
behaviours. There is a growing concern that teens needs to be aware
of the intervantions available to them. Although education can teach
teens what support is available, teens will not seek help if they,
themselves do not have a problem.