Download Problems in Adolescence

Chapter 13: Introduction
PROBLEMS IN ADOLESCENCE
Problems In Adolescence
 Remember “adolescent generalization gap”
 Negative stereotyping
 73% of adolescents have a positive self-image
 Not ALL adolescents face problems
 Adolescence is a time of many changes
 Problems in adolescence are generally associated
with a combination of factors
Biopsychosocial Approach
 Biological Factors
 Genetics, puberty, hormones, the brain
 Early maturation - drug abuse & delinquency (girls)
 Puberty – depression (girls)
 Early sexual intercourse – delinquency & drug abuse
 Brain development (prefrontal cortex/amygdala) –
risk taking & sensation seeking bxs
Biopsychosocial Approach
 Psychological Factors
 Identity, personality traits, decision making, self
control
 Search for identity/ experimentation
 Early adolescent emotional fluctuations can become
intensely negative – depression and aggression
 Low conscientiousness – substance abuse & conduct
problems
 Emotions can overwhelm decision-making ability
 Low self-control – substance abuse, delinquency
Biopsychosocial Approach
 Social Factors
 Family, peers, schools, SES, poverty, neighborhoods
 High levels of parent-child conflict, inadequate supervision,
insecure attachment
 Increase time and connection with peers (+/-)
 Rejected adolescents – low self-esteem, depression, suicide
 Delinquent peers – substance abuse & delinquency
 Early dating – substance abuse
 Break-ups -- depression
 Schools are not meeting the needs of adolescents
 Impersonal, no counseling available
 Low SES
 High SES – male substance abuse
Developmental Pathway Approach
 Where does the problem start?
 What are precursors? Risk factors? Early
experiences?
 How does the problem develop over time?
 Longitudinal studies
 What are protective factors?
 Ultimately seeking to inform treatment and
prevention, and develop effective
interventions.
Developmental Pathway Approach
 Parental psychopathology – childhood depression
 Maternal depression
 Infant Attachment style – Adolescent problems
 Insecure attachment in infancy – adolescent anxiety
 Avoidant attachment in infancy – adolescent conduct
problems
 Early supportive care (secure attachment)  early peer
competence  decrease chance of problems in
adolescence and early adulthood (protective factors)
 Patterns of problems in adolescence – patterns in
adulthood
 continuity
Internalizing &
Externalizing
Internalizing
Externalizing
 Problems turned inward
 Problems turned outward
 Anxiety, depression,
 Delinquency, aggression,
suicide
 Predicts internalizing
problems in adulthood
 Middle SES –
overcontrolled
 More characteristic of
females
violence, bullying
 Elevates risk for antisocial
problems in adulthood
 Predicts adult female
internalizing problems
 Lower SES – destruction of
property, fighting
 More characteristic of males
Characteristics of Problems
 Wide spectrum
 Duration, severity
 Gender, SES, age in development
 Referrals to MH services




Unhappiness
sadness
Depression
Difficulties in school (primary or secondary)
 Risk factors vs. developmental assets
 External: Support, empowerment, boundaries &
expectations, constructive use of time
 Internal: commitment to learning, positive values, social
competencies, positive identity
Stress
 The response to circumstances and events that
threaten and/or tax one’s coping abilities
 Acute or chronic
 Physical, emotional, psychosocial stressors
 Many sources of stress
 Perception of stress decreases in late
adolescence
Coping
 Managing taxing circumstances, expending effort to





master problems, seeking to reduce stress
Healthy vs. unhealthy coping strategies
Individual characteristics
Active and internal coping increase as adolescents
age
Problem-focused coping: face one’s troubles and try
to solve them
Emotion-focused coping: responding to stress in an
emotional manner (using defense mechanisms)
 Rationalizing, denying, avoiding, joking
 Maladaptive
Coping
 Thinking positively
 Optimism
 Behaving positively
 Increase self control
 Active, not reactive
 Seek support
 Close, secure friendships
 Professional support
 Do not isolate
 Context specific
 Coping depends on the context you are in
 Coping flexibility