Psychology-Identity Development

For young individuals who start puberty earlier compared to their peers, the transformation seems to be highly fraught, particularly for girls. Girls who mature earlier are at higher risk of various psychosocial problems like depression, early sexual behavior, and substance abuse, among others (Weir, 2016). The picture for boys who develop earlier is not quite clear, but research suggests that they are also likely to suffer ill consequences from earlier maturation in comparison with their peers. Weir (2016) claims that boys who experience advanced sexual maturation tend to have higher levels of anxiety, interpersonal stress, and negative self-image compared to their peers. Generally, adolescence is highly linked with risky behavior indulgence like unsafe sex and is also a period with a higher risk of mental health problems, which media and peer pressure for conformity can exacerbate; hence, parental, religious, communal, and government efforts are needed to help lessen such risky behaviors.

Early maturation seems more common since, initially, it started majorly at 16 years, whereas currently, it is closer to 13 for most children. Irrespective of the timing of various physical changes that occur during adolescence, this is often a time when physical appearance assumes major importance. Both girls and boys tend to spend more time concerned about their appearance in an attempt to fit in with the norms of various groups that they identify most with (Gentry & Campbell, 2017). Most pre-adolescents desire to fit in, and none of them would wish to be different from their peers in any form, shape, or manner; therefore, when a child develops earlier than peers, long-lasting mental health effects can be recorded. For children who experience advanced sexual maturation, there is a high probability of thinking of oneself as physically attractive or sexually desirable, and this impacts their social interactions. Girls tend to have lower confidence and are more anxious in their relations with friends and family. However, both boys and girls tend to have a higher likelihood of hanging out with friends who are often older, leading them to engage in risky behaviors like substance use and sexual behavior (Weir, 2016). Boys tend to feel more masculine and are able to fit in various sports, but they are also likely to experience emotional distress and indulge in delinquent and risky behaviors like drug and alcohol use as well as sexual activity.

Sexual behavior among adolescents depends on personality, religiosity, family stability, ethnicity, the onset of puberty, gender, and experience of abuse (Kastbom et al, 2016). The media, particularly the internet, television, and music, form an integral part of adolescents. Even though media continues to have an increasing influence on adolescents’ development, the final consequences are based on the extent to which the positive factors are harnessed and the negatives minimized (Gentry & Campbell, 2017). Research shows that, on average, teenage viewers are exposed to 143 sexual behavior incidents on television at prime every week, with depictions of about 4 or 3 times as many sexual activities taking place between partners who are unmarried as opposed to spouses (Gruber & Grube, 2020). Most music videos depict sexual impulses and feelings, and others show provocative clothing as well as sexually suggestive body movements that seem appealing to adolescents. The sexual messages sent by the media are mostly in a positive light, with few depictions of negative consequences and minor discussions regarding the probable risks of unprotected sexual intercourse, like pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. However, media can also be used for health and sex educational purposes. Since most teenagers exchange information with their friends through various social medial platforms, messages about sexual activity can be sent through these platforms, and the influence can be positive or negative depending on the peer group that one belongs to.

Since the media forms an integral part of delivering messages about sexual behavior, parental influence is needed to regulate such. According to Broom et al. (2017), parental influence and monitoring can help promote educational messages about sexual behavior. Parents are said to have the largest influence on the decisions of their adolescent kids about sex, but most of them avoid such talks since they generate apprehension and anxiety (Ashcraft & Murray, 2017). Most parents, schools, and religious leaders advocate for abstinence, but it is advisable to talk to teenagers about how to protect themselves when they become sexually active.

According to Kohlberg, most adolescents have attained the conventional level of moral reasoning. In the fourth stage (the social-order-maintaining orientation), morality is often determined by what the majority considers to be the best. Given the high rampancy of engaging in sexual activities among teens as influenced by peers and the media, a teen is likely to indulge in sexual activity because this might be considered the best decision that will allow one to be in harmony with others and to make it possible for one to “fit in.” The fifth stage is one on social contract and individual rights. At this stage, a teen would reason that the set rules on sexual behaviors (such as abstinence) do not work for the interests of certain individuals like themselves, and this causes them to seek freedom or deviance from the laws and thereby indulge in sexual activity.

Indulging in risky behaviors endangers the social, physical, and psychological lives of teenagers. One of the behaviors that may put adolescents at risk is indulging in unprotected sex. For girls, this is likely to result in teenage pregnancy and/or STDs. Teenage pregnancy is highly linked with dropping out of school, shame, ridicule, and inability to fit in, which exacerbate stress and depression as well as isolation from peers, which affect a teenager’s social, physical, and psychological life (Corcoran, 2016). Indulging in reckless driving and drug and alcohol abuse could cause physical and psychological harm.

Religiosity largely impacts teenagers’ decisions. However, there are times when an adolescent’s religious values might be contrasted with messages from popular culture. For instance, issues of homosexuality and sex before marriage have conflicting messages. Whereas some religions oppose sex before marriage and identify with homosexuality, popular culture and peers might be in support, causing major distress and confusion for a teenager who identifies as homosexual and/or who is sexually active.

According to Steinberg (2007), over 90% of high-school students in the US have indulged in sex, driving, and drug education, yet many of them still binge drink, drive recklessly, smoke cigarettes, and have unsafe sex. Therefore, the author suggests strategies like increasing cigarette prices, imposing alcohol sale laws more vigilantly, raising the age of driving, and increasing the access of adolescents to contraceptive and mental health services (Steinberg, 2007). These strategies can help lessen the social, psychological, and physical ramifications of risky behavior in adolescents. Given the strong influence that parents can have on their children regarding decisions about issues like sex and drug use, Ashcraft and Murray (2016) suggest advising parents to be more involved in the lives of their children, monitoring their school and social life, supporting healthy practices like exercise and diet and constantly communicating with the teens, while showing understanding instead of judgment for their feelings and behaviors. Encouraging adolescents to indulge in various activities like sports and clubs with positive role models can also help lessen risky behaviors. Generally, collaboration among parents, teenagers, teachers, community members, and local or national government agencies can help lessen risky behaviors among adolescents.

References

Ashcraft, A. M., & Murray, P. J. (2017). Talking to parents about adolescent sexuality. Pediatric Clinics of North America, 64(2), 305.

Broom, M., Allen, N., Landry, M., Turner, M., Vyas, A., & Wood, S. (2017). Social Media and Sexual Behavior Among Adolescents: Is there a link? JMIR Public Health Surveill, 3(2): e28.

Corcoran, J. (2016). Teenage pregnancy and mental health. Societies, 6(3), 21.

Gentry, J.H & Campbell, M. (2017). Developing adolescents: A reference for professionals. American Psychological Association.

Gruber, E., & Grube, J. W. (2020). Adolescent sexuality and the media: A review of current knowledge and implications. Western Journal of Medicine, 172(3), 210.

Kastbom, Å. A., Sydsjö, G., Bladh, M., Priebe, G., & Svedin, C. G. (2016). Differences in sexual behavior, health, and history of child abuse among school students who had and had not engaged in sexual activity by the age of 18 years: a cross-sectional study. Adolescent health, medicine and therapeutics, 7, 1.

Steinberg, L. (2007). Risk taking in adolescence: New perspectives from brain and behavioral science. Current directions in psychological science, 16(2), 55-59.

Weir, K. (2016). The risks of earlier puberty. American Psychological Association, 47(3), 40.

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