Adolescent at-risk or risky society? Michael Angastiniotis M.A.G.A.M Catanzaro Oct 2010

Who can answer this question? Psychology Sociology Education Anthropology Political Science What about the doctor, how does he/she understand all this?

What is Society? A group of people related to each other through persistent relations, Status, roles, networks, bands, tribes, gangs - Wikipedia

Society changes from this……..

Maintaining order By force By gossip By accusation and punishment But also: Caring Relationships and comradeship Love

To this…………..

Maintaining order By force By gossip By accusation and punishment But also: Caring Relationships and comradeship Love

Or this…..

Changes in Society and ‘the generation gap’. Risks largely unknown to parents Furling&Camel1997

Changes in Society Affect both adults and children Can be positive and negative influences Adolescents are vulnerable to negative effects leading to risk behavior: “Adolescence is shaped by the socio-cultural context in which it was shaped” (Crocket &Silbereisen 2000) But is this true absolutely?

Influences on Adolescents Peer acceptance Effects of gender, class, race Poverty versus affluence. (Poverty can have a negative effect but also a positive one through work to support self and family – maturation) One danger is unemployment Any aspect of human variation

Influences on Adolescents Hollywood and TV: sex, violence, the culture of justice by kicking “but”, the superheroes Internet: time spent leading to isolation from family and peers, creating distant friendships (facebook). The virtual world Video games: violence

Italian survey “Habits & lifestyles of Adolescents” M Tucci: Rivista Italiana Medicina di dell’ Adolescenza 2010,8(2): yearsNational ave TV >3hours Internet >3hours Smoke cigarettes29.5%39.7%43.2% Smoke Cannabis8%15.7%15.6% Respect parental control 67.4%62.8%56.8% Have been drunk13.3%18.3%32.1%

Influences on Adolescents Exposure to sexual images and acts leading to earlier sexual activity Changes in family structure: divorce rates, single parents, extended families reduced to nuclear families (grandparents no longer around) Education: more to learn yet “an adolescent culture which shows little interest in education” JS Coleman 1959

Adolescent reactions Variable Degree of adult support, positive encouragement, having clear goals Boredom Keeping up with peers – money to spend Competition in clothes, appearance, popularity

Adolescents must cope With school (competitive) Family (stability or loss) Peer group (need for recognition) Work (or unemployment) Life events Sexuality

Coping The process of managing taxing circumstances, expending effort to solve personal and interpersonal problems People can use positive or negative coping mechanisms Negative coping can lead to depression, eating disorders, risk behavior, self harm

Some coping mechanisms used by adolescents Avoiding issues that cause distress Acting out – not coping, misbehaving Lowering sights to what is achievable Denial Fantasy Identification: copying others Somatisation

My adolescence

The results – a new adolescent culture Less obedience to parents and school, e.g no more school uniform Adults reluctant to interfere since we may be on a ‘mission Schools were closed by the authorities yet education was not prevented. A new culture of freedom for young people The sexes could communicate more freely

The adolescent and Society Society and societal change influence adolescent development both negatively and positively Individuals in the same society and circumstances will be influenced in different ways according, among others, to the coping mechanisms adopted An adolescent culture develops through changes in society which in turn has an effect in society. How can poor physicians help?

What would you do?

What is the role of a doctor? Treat acme, deal with the physical problems Listen to the adolescent: Give time Privacy Know the family background Give encouragement, promote self esteem Motivate Acceptance of diversity Accept changes in society (Petersen 2000)

Thank you!