External stressors unique to teens

According to Faulkner, teenagers mee the definition of a “vulnerable population.” Like children, imprisoned inmates, and cognitively impaired individuals, teenagers may not be able to advocate for themselves to maintain their own health and safety (Faulkner, A. 2018). One external stressor that teenagers may suffer is the impact of online bullying (cyberbullying). As teens grow into new bodies and deeper, more complicated relationships with friends and peers, bullying can have a dramatic effect on a teenager’s self-esteem. With the advent of social media, a new platform has been created where bullied teens can be attacked in the comfort of their own home, not just at school.

A second stressor unique to teens is dating violence. As teenagers navigate the unfamiliar waters of intimate partner relationships, they can be especially vulnerable to the toxic behaviors associated with dating violence. Some signs of dating violence include physical abuse, seclusion from friends and family, decline in academic performance, and use of emotional control/abuse tactics (Faulkner, A. 2018).

Risk taking behavior related to stressors

As a result of these stressors, teens who fall victim to cyberbullying or dating violence may engage in risky behaviors. These individuals may turn to drug or alcohol abuse. Teens in unhealthy relationships may be pressured into unwanted or unsafe sexual encounters. They also may become at risk for depression or suicide, which are further issues teens need to be screened and monitored for (Faulkner, A. 2018).

Coping mechanisms and support

Support is available for these teenagers. For teens who have falling into physically or emotionally abusive relationships, many public-school programs have been created to educate students and their families about signs of dating violence and how to address it. School nurses head this education in many facilities to create a culture of awareness (Faulkner, A. 2018). Help is also available for teens victimized by bullying who have fallen into depression or are at risk for suicide. Programs like Lifelines Curriculum and Coping and Support Training (CAST) have been instituted to promote systems for identifying students who are at risk and supplying support resources like professional and peer-based counseling to these teens (Faulkner, A. 2018).

References

Faulkner, A. (2018). Adolescent assessment . In Health Assessment Foundations for effective practice . http://dx.doi.org/https://lc.gcumedia.com/nrs434vn/health-assessment-foundations-for-effective-practice/v1.1/#/chapter/3

Reply 2

Stress is how the body and brain respond to a demand. Human body is meant to handle small amounts of stress, but too much can take a toll on one’s mental and physical health. This means that we should device ways of coping with stress when identified. While every teen faces a unique challenge and different life event, some circumstances are common to most teens.

Relationships and violence are some of the external stressors encountered by teens. Healthy dating relationships and relationship abuse among teens have led to formation of programs to educate them on components of healthy dating relationships. Such programs are initiated in schools and should involve educating teachers and parents regarding warning signs of relationship violence (Fry et al., 2014). Teens would always start feeling new romantic or sexual draw to people. Its normal but can be stressful and confusing. They feel some self- doubt or lack of confidence. This adds stress to them if they face questions about gender identity or sexual orientation. At times teens feel stressed about the right way to respond to friends’ needs. It becomes hard to set boundaries on how their hardships affect own lives. Teenagers should be informed regarding resources if they feel pressured to have sex or are being abused in a relationship, whether sexually, verbally, or physically (Howarth et al., 2015).

Bullying and friendships are considered as external stressors in teenagers. At one point or the other, everyone must admit having been part of this vice in childhood. Within the adolescent community bullying is a concern, affecting nearly 20-30% of students who admit being the perpetrator or victim of such harassment (Jantzer, Haffner, Parzer, Resch, & Kaess, 2015). Bullying is “an aggressive behavior that is intentional, repeated, and involves a power imbalance” (Sampasa- Kanyinga, Roumeliotis, & Xu, 2014).

These stressors may result in suicidal ideations and even committing suicide itself. Some may start indulging in alcoholism, end up with depression, physical illness and poor coping skills as drugs. Teen suicide could result from unresolved crisis from stressors, teenage suicide and teenage depression have increased (Bratsis, 2014), suicide is the second leading cause of death among 10-24 years of age (Lamis, Underwood, & D’ Amore, 2017, p.89).

Nurses direct victims to support groups. This groups offer support and protection of victims and put them through programs for behavior change with psychotherapy. Some involved in drugs are taken to rehabilitation camps and go through behavior change with help of medications.

References

Falkner, A. (2018) Health Assessment: Foundations for Effective Practice retrieved from

https://www.gcumedia.com/digital-resources/grand-canyon-university/2018/health-assessment_foundations-for-effective-practice_1e.php

Break the Silence: Stop the Violence,” by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) retrieved from

http://www.cdc.gov/cdctv/injuryviolenceandsafety/break-silence-stop-violence.html