Issues During the Adolescent Stage of Development
Adolescent development depends on the form of attachment to parents in early childhood. This attachment guarantees that a teenager will have fewer problems. However, attachment is essential not only in childhood but also in adolescence. Teenagers also place great value on attachment to other teenagers, whether through friendship or romantic relationships. As a result, the self-appraisal of teenagers grows, which reduces the risk of disorders of food behavior, juvenile criminality, depression, and suicide.
Eating Disorders
Bulimia and anorexia are two types of eating disorders. These disorders first of all strike girls-teenagers from well-off families (Santrock, n.d.). Anorexia is a disorder of food behavior, in that a human starves itself to attain a slimmer figure (Santrock, n.d.). Anorexia can result in death, as changes become irreversible, and the human organism is not a percipient meal.
Bulimia is an eating behavior disorder, in that a human who overeats has an indefatigable desire to cause vomiting, sometimes using medications. This disorder, as well as anorexia, arises from fear of an individual getting fat and disliking their reflection in a mirror. These diseases cause depression, which results in alcoholism.
Criminal Influences
The environment is the most widespread cause of crime among minors, but, as in the case of disorders of food behavior, low self-esteem can also play a specific role. It is considered that in poor neighborhoods, adolescents more often become criminals. In addition, if in the surroundings of a teenager there is a criminal, for example, one of their friends or classmates, a teenager also with greater probability can commit a crime. This relates to the fact that teenagers can be more receptive to negative influences, especially when they are not attached to their parents, which can lead to a poor self-appraisal.
Depression
Depression in adolescents is often a complication of eating disorders, use of forbidden substances, and juvenile criminality. Depression can also be caused by the absence of attachment to peers, the loss of hope, the break of romantic relations, or conflicts with parents. Girls-teenagers more often suffer from depression than their male peers (Santrock, n.d.). This is because girls arrive at puberty earlier than boys, and more often run into discrimination, with a shameful attitude toward the body. Depressed parents and financial problems can also contribute to depression in teenagers, while a positive parental relationship, emotional support, and positive relations with peers reduce the risk of depression.
Suicide
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among teenagers in the United States (Santrock, n.d.). Women more often try to end their lives by suicide, while men achieve success more often (Santrock, n.d.). It is explained by the fact that women consider it best to cut their veins and to drink pills, while men can use a weapon for suicide. Most teenagers who think of suicide are depressed. Triggers can be maltreatment in childhood, rape, negative relationships with parents, break of romantic relations, and, lately, academic failure.
Role of Parents During Adolescence
Depression and juvenile criminality often are the consequence of ineffective parenting and the absence of attachments. Other risk factors include the environment, a toxic school or classroom atmosphere, mockery, low self-esteem, and others. If a teenager commits a violent crime at age 13-16, they should be tried as an adult. Adolescents at 16 years old are likely to have already decided to commit a crime independently. This is important to judge a teenager for a violent crime, regardless of circumstances, because one can take advantage of the fact that one is not an adult, as well as other criminals can also use it.
No wonder that suicide is one of the main reasons for death among teenagers, taking into account numerous factors that can influence an unstable organism. In addition, teenagers face several issues at this time and are not ready to resolve them. Parents often do not realize that at this age, teenagers still need support and care, and can leave a teenager with their problems alone if adolescents push away adults.
Reference
Santrock, J. W. (n.d.). Essentials of Life-Span Development. (7th ed.). McGraw-Hill.