Adolescence is the stage of not quite an adult yet no longer a child. There is a lack of emotional maturity therefore there is “poor decision making and there is an increase of at-risk behaviors thereby it is also considered as part of the vulnerable population’ ‘(Grand Canyon University, 2018). During this stage of Erikson’s stage of identity vs role confusion, the adolescent is seeking to be more independent yet also places importance on establishing relationships with friends, romantic partners, and society (Orenstein, 2021). This is the stage where the teen finds themselves and attempts to meet social expectations. External stressors unique to adolescents are social networks and bullying.
The availability of platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter amongst others, makes it easy for teens to share and post any information they would like, whether it is constructive or destructive to one another. This causes stress to teens due to the social expectations and to the uncertainty of what judgemental information may be posted about them. Studies have shown that there is a direct correlation and significant increase in suicidal thoughts and depression especially on teenage girls spending multiple hours on social media (Shafer, 2017). With virtual online communication, there is also a lack of personal communication with peers, causing disassociation and a lack of sense of responsibility.
Another stressor for the teen is also bullying. Bullying affects 20-30% of students which is aggressive behavior that is intentional (Grand Canyon University, 2018). There are varied forms and levels of bullying. Some can be subtle that it may not be easily detected by the parents or the adults until it is too late. The emotional effect of bullying is so damaging that it causes depression and suicidal ideation in teenagers. Cyberbullying is the newest form of utilizing social media platforms. And because the bullies remain anonymous, there is a lack of responsibility and they can be crueler (Grand Canyon University, 2018).
Various resources have been established to help adolescents cope with stress. CDC has guidelines and lifeline contacts for teenagers in distress, a suicide hotline as well a crisis line (cdc.gov). Most important for adolescents is the emotional support they can get and positive reinforcements from their immediate family members. The healthcare team can also help the adolescent by conducting a thorough assessment and screenings in order to identify the needs and to promote health and education.
Reference:
CDC.gov Support for Teens and Young Adults. retrieved from : Support For Teens and Young Adults (cdc.gov)
Grand Canyon University (Ed). (2018). Health assessment: Foundations for effective practice. Retrieved from https://lc.gcumedia.com/nrs434vn/health-assessment-foundations-for-effective-practice/v1.1/
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