Teen Development, Relationships, and Mental Health: Key Concepts

Is family conflict normal?

yes and needs to be learnt also warmth makes it easier to manage conflict

What happens if conflict happens too often?

it may be time to reconsider the teens' limits. To do that one needs to consider where the teen can have more autonomy, give a little more autonomy and see how the teen reacts. Also too much conflict can lead a child leaving home earlier than intended

What do romantic relationships look like in early teens?

they tend to start developing more mixed sex friend groups

What do romantic relationships look like middle and late teens?

in middle teens they tend to have brief or casual romantic relationships and in late teens the relationships are often intense longer romantic relationships. During this time friends are an important support to help through intense emotions

What can be seen when romantic relationships are negative?

They are not consistent with the person's values, controlling or abusive, there's intermittent reinforcement, manipulative (often not intentional), isolating, and mistaking intensity for caring

What is intermittent reinforcement?

its the reason why people stay in toxic relationships, because the good stuff is usually really good but the bad is usually really really bad which makes the partner question if they should stay because the good is good and will probably come back after the bad moments

What is manipulation (often not intentional)?

where the person has a goal but also has a fake goal. So if the guy says im going to break up the girl will cry saying i wont be able to live without you, this is a fake goal because she can say it was just her expressing her emotions but in reality the real goal is that she doesn't want him to break up with her

What is isolating?

partner creating doubts about the other partner's relationships and find excuses for them not to hang out with other people but their partner

How do we know when a relationship is abusive?

if we see psychological abuse, physical abuse, or sexual abuse

What is psychological abuse?

person making you crummy. They put people down, say offensive jokes, excessive criticism, insults, gashlighting, screaming, cursing, name calling, being controlling, manipulative, this makes the other person often either depressed or very angry

What is physical abuse?

hitting, bitting, holding arms really tightly, not letting you leave, shaking, poking, or threatening to hit

What is sexual abuse?

Anything you haven't consented to, has to always ask for consent and if intoxicated it also abuse

How can we help someone who is in a toxic relationship?

recognize there are good and valuable aspects to their relationships, the partner. Help the person talk about their own concerns or upsets

and practice active listening so they know you are listening. Remain available

offer support and resources and encourage more balance in their life in general like encourage them to see more friends and get out more

What intense positive emotions do teens feel?

positive emotions like happiness, joy, pleasure, anticipation, admiration and awe. These positive emotions are to seek out. As intense as the emotions are, they are temporary otherwise they lose their signaling capacity

What intense negative emotions do teens feel?

Anger and its for protection, sadness and grief which try to avoid, disgust which protects from things that make you ill, worry and fear are problematic and insecurity and jealousy is part of worry and fear, loneliness means your not spending enough time with people and you need emotional connection rather than physical, hurt is there for something painful, overwhelming is there for if there is too much of something

What is emotion and gender socialization for males?

males are discouraged from feeling/ expressing overwhelming weakness, sadness and feeling scared. However they are allowed to show anger, problem solving as its encouraged

What is emotion and gender socialization for females?

females are discouraged from feeling/ expressing anger, powerfulness, ambition, competition, but what is allowed is showing hurt, upset and fear what is encouraged is listening, supporting

What helps emotion management in the moment?

social support, being heard helps, accept and re focus then distract, physical activity after expressing

What helps emotion management over time?

caring, stable relationships, including pets, physical activity, enough sleep and being in nature

Skills are needed for mental health?

skills to support should be taught through schools and to families. Assessment and treatment when there is a problem currently not enough, not consistent/ long enough, not enough follow up. Group treatments are great for teens

Whats the difference between self harm and suicide?

they have different goals, self harm can be compulsive and physical pain distracts. Suicidal thoughts are quite common and how we assess the risk is when someone has a plan. Caregivers can learn to handle better and follow up after attempt, any health care contact, missed appointments are essential

What Societal Factors Impact Mental Health?

Because hope/ hopelessness, belonging, loneliness are so impactful. Social mobility, access to education, Minimum wage and unemployment, Overly stressful environments, Substance availability/costs like alcohol equals depression

What factors influence teens breaking the law?

Early factors influence; FAS, LD, ADHD, school problems, family problems ...increase into late adolescence, drops from mid-twenties. Many not teens are not caught, and if caught many are not arrested. Priveredge helps, Peers are an important influence but teens also choose peers. What's important is to not label as 'criminal'

Substance Use and Abuse in teens

Later is better because it can lead to Impulsive behaviours (esp alcohol), Addiction, Psychosis, Vaping harder to quit than smoking because more nicotine is absorbed. Who's at risk is unhappy teens, education, reducing availability,

Prices reduce

What are some Behavioural 'Addictions'?

Device use, social Media, video games, Gambling, Excessive exercise, Self-harm

When do we consider a behavioural addiction a problem?

When its causes distress, getting in the way of ones functioning

How does Family Influence teens?

By being a good model, dont give too much freedom around these areas too fast as there are no individual devices until high school and no devices in the bedroom late at night. Encourage schools to limit phones. Limit access to substances. Adults can't control the teen but they do influence and it DOES impact teens