This research identifies and discusses five aspects of adolescence that are of great concern to most parents. Additionally, this research considers strategies that might ameliorate the problems associated with these five aspects of adolescence.
Five Troubling Aspects of Adolescence
The five aspects of adolescence considered in this research are (1) disaffection from society, (2) suicide, (3) alcohol and drug use, (4) prostitution, and (5) social behavior that may lead to pregnancy and AIDS (acquired immunity deficiency syndrome) infection. Often, two or more of these aspects of adolescence are present in the same individual, and there exist strong interrelationships among these behavioral aspects of adolescence.
A variety of reasons underlie the disaffection of young people from their society and their families. One of these factors is abuse both physical and psychological perpetrated by someone in a position of trust or authority in the life of a young person (Howing, 1990, pp. 244 49). One of the most debilitating outcomes of abuse experienced by a young person is a loss of self esteem (Ogata, 1990, pp. 1008 1013). Abuse, and the hopelessness and depression that often stems from abuse, frequently leads to a loss of self esteem (Madonna, 1991, pp. 46 49). The loss of self esteem leads many adolescents to consider suicide (Sanders and Giolas, 1991, pp. 50 54).
The cycle of abuse, hopelessness, depression, the loss of self esteem, and suicide ideation involves such factors as a failure to develop effective interpersonal skills, ineffective social integration, and dysfunctional families (Jean Gilles and Crittenden, 1990, pp. 323 329).
The linkage between suicidal behavior in adults and hopelessness, depression, and a loss of self esteem is well studied and documented (Beck, Kovacs, and Weissman, 1975, pp. 1146 1149). The studies of these relationships in children, however, are, for the most part, less than...