JOIN USAdolescence, which overlaps with teenage, is the most sensitive period of life. It is a transit phase from being a dependent child to transforming into an independent adult, with the individual experiencing many changes.
They face board exams, feel their exam performance is scrutinised and compared with others; they come under pressure while making career choices, and can get influenced by the beliefs of other students or their families. There may be a large adolescent population, considering that a recent report says that 50% of Indians are less than 25 years old. Their distinct behaviours make some parents clueless.
Several factors, such as parental neglect due to their marital disharmony or medical problems, work-related stress in parents, criticisms due to poor academic performance, bullying at school, or frequent negative events due to critical peers, could lead to low self-esteem and in turn low self-confidence. Feelings of loneliness and depression may also be present. As the social interaction skill is still developing, they may misread body language or expressions of others, especially of their parents and some adolescents may avoid sharing their difficulties with their parents.
It is common for adolescents to experience some degree of mood swings. Such changes in the emotions may affect decision-making, as the same decision may feel right or wrong, depending on their emotional state at the moment. This sometimes creates conflict in decision-making that reduces their self-confidence.
Most teenagers spend little time with families, which sometimes leads to a communication gap. Teenagers mostly enjoy being with peers and usually get involved in group activities. Intense, irresistible urges could arise out of the blue can lead to regrettable impulsive decision-making. In addition to impulsiveness, the risk of potential peer rejection and fear of loneliness may push them to try smoking, alcohol or drugs, either to impress or support peer group activity.
Generally, they have high curiosity to experiment and always try to explore something new, feel the urge to perform unique tasks for want of more attention. Studies have shown that teenagers involve in high-risk behaviour, especially when peers are watching them. The teens, to avoid feeling low and irritable, tries to do lots of activities, especially exciting ones.
During adolescence, the pre-frontal cortex, which is the front part of the brain that helps in decision-making and the limbic system that deals with emotions and motivation, are in the developmental stage. Developed inhibition mechanism generally puts brakes on the urges seeking instant reward or the impulsive actions.
Young people learn decision-making by watching their peers or may try instinctively. Decision-making is an essential life skills that needs to be taught from childhood by reinforcement. The parents also need to reinforce that they are available to discuss the problems or issues that are worrying the adolescent, and help him or her.
Social Media
Greater use of smartphones, internet and social media by adolescents without any boundary can lead to unpredictable behaviours. It is not possible to assess the magnitude of overuse of technology, but it comes to light only when there is significant noticeable change in behaviour. Teens continue to connect with friends through online forums and could easily get an urge to perform an act so as to be noticed.
Such behaviour may get reinforced with the group’s attention, which leads to increase in such behaviours despite being risky. Some people could be sensitive to negative comments, and may become preoccupied with trying to impress their peer group, which then becomes their top priority.
Teenagers need education to help understand peer influence and learn to assertively say “no” when the situation demands. Persistent low self-esteem, fear of rejection, feelings of loneliness could all be signs of depression and such individuals should seek early consultation with a psychiatrist. They should avoid impulsive decision-making and learn to overcome mood swings. Learning and practising techniques of mindfulness can help adapt to frequent changes.
Mandatory training and interactive group sessions to equip with life skills, assertiveness, coping strategies and decision-making skills should be conducted in all educational institutions.
It is necessary to provide supportive psychological therapy, either in individual sessions or in small groups, for those teens who are experiencing varied levels of difficulties.
(The writer is a Bengaluru-based consultant psychiatrist)