Influence on Adolescent Behaviour
Hello friends. Welcome to my post in which I have discussed "Influence on Adolescent Behaviour" as part of my participation in this 👉contest.
What is Adolescent Behaviour? Explain in 150 words.
Every one of us transits from being a child to an adult, and those things that we usually do during childhood we are no longer doing them as we are now see as childish behavior. With that being said, adolescent behavior simply means a transition between childhood and adulthood, which is characterized by changes in social development, physical and cognitive.
During the adolescence stage of our lives, we usually seek independence, develop a sense of identity, and form a deeper relationship outside our home (family). Also, the behavior of adolescents is mood swings, risk talking with elderly ones, a strong desire for acceptance, and peer Influence. What helps adolescents to navigate easily in our society is positive guidance and support from teachers, parents, and peers. The behavior of a person during the adolescent stage changes as the person keeps growing in life.
• Explain at least 3 factors influencing adolescent behavior.
The three factors influencing adolescent behavior are; peer pressure, social media, and family relationships.
Peer pressure: Most people during adolescence often seek to be accepted by their parents or friends, and validation from peer groups can lead to conforming to the behavior of such people, which can involve activities that are high risk.
Social Media: This can enhance both positive and negative impacts on adolescent behavior, affecting one self-esteem, cyberbullying, and even online comparison.
Family relationships: The quality of the relationships given by parents and caregivers can significantly impact adolescent self-esteem and how they perceive themselves and other people.
• How do social media and family influence adolescent self-esteem and perception of others?
Social media and family influence adolescent self-esteem and perception of others in the following ways;
Comparison culture, where adolescents usually compare themselves to images and online lifestyles on social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram, which leads to low self-esteem, worth, or inadequacy.
Validation seeking, where adolescents seek comments, likes, and shares, which are now seen as a measure of self-worth, making adolescents rely more on external validation on social media.
Distorted realities where curated posts may distort the perception of what adolescents see as desirable or normal.
Family influence are based on; emotional support such as communication and nurturing, modeling behavior and feedback and expectations.
• Do you think their mental health is affected by peer pressure or social media?
Yes, I think their mental health is affected by peer pressure and social media. For example, a person who loves trends and sees a trend on social media what he or she saw may become peer expectations offline, like using specific apps, increasing or decreasing dressing, and so on. Other factors such as digital literacy, open conversation, and supportive family and friends can also be contributing factors.
