Empathy In Adolescence

Although teen pregnancy has often been associated with issues of principles and authority, for many teens it is full of hard decisions and change. A pregnant teen not only has

There is presently much controversy regarding teen pregnancy, considering that many countries in the developed world experience a rise in adolescent pregnancies in spite of the fact that effective programs are installed in these areas. Teen pregnancy has been a major issue in Los Angeles in the recent years, but the fact that state authorities have been actively involved in combating the problem has generated positive results. It is probable that the struggle for abstinence and the practice of safe sex have become less important for high school students in Los Angeles in the last few years, taking into account that teen pregnancy rates have gone up significantly.

The adolescent described in this scenario is a young girl who has noticeably gone astray, without guidance and positive motivation. This analysis is evident in her lifestyle choices as a possible drug user, engaging in promiscuous activity, and misbehaving at school. The initial social topics surrounding this situation are drugs, teen sex, and probable teen dropout; however, these problems could progress to more serious societal matters such as sexually transmitted diseases, teen pregnancy, or ultimately resulting in death. I can identify the problems in this storyline, because I realize that the use of illegal drugs and the misuse of pharmaceuticals are reprehensible and punishable by law. In addition, I recognize that premarital and extramarital sex is morally and ethically wrong since sex is intended for married couples only. Furthermore, I understand that children are to be respectful and obedient towards adults.

However, in order to best communicate informed consent, counselor can educate their students through school handbooks, brochures, classroom curriculum, and informing students verbally (p. 2). Confidentially looks different in terms of working with minors, when assessing a situation for serious and foreseeable harm. A counselor must consider students’ chronological and developmental age. As well as the setting, parental rights, and the nature of harm possible. Additionally, school counselors need to consider students’ ethical rights to make their own choices, and to give assent or consent, and the legal rights of the students’ parents and families to make choices for their child (p. 2).

Teen pregnancy has been a problem in the United States for years. Although rates have dropped since the 1990’s, teen pregnancy rates in the United States are still higher than other western societies. Teenage pregnancy is accompanied with many negative consequences such as shortened educational experience, diminished employment, larger family size, increased risk of single- parent and poverty. Teen mothers struggle on a daily basis, if you are one of them you should visit a psychoeducational group. Teen mothers should attend psychoeducational groups because they can teach teen moms parenting skills, social skills, and provide them with the support they

As advanced practice nurses (APNs), we may encounter patient care situations that stretch our moral boundaries. However, APNs are in a position to intervene for positive change. One such situation is the area of teenage pregnancy. Teenagers engage in sexual activity for a number of reasons; these include a desire for affection, peer pressure, curiosity and experimentation, as well as physical satisfaction. Although, adolescents may appear mature physically, mentally they are still children who are unable to control their emotions, and fully comprehend the consequences of their actions. Many adolescents do not understand that risky sexual behavior can lead to pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Teenagers have misconceptions about contraception and sexuality, and are often embarrassed to discuss these issues with parents, guardians, and healthcare professionals. Frequently, adolescents are sexually active without knowing how to protect themselves (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2014).

Lifelong sexual health for adolescents requires this vulnerable population have information about and access to affordable, youth-friendly, and culturally competent sexual healthcare services. In addition, the providers of these sexual healthcare services should be trained to respect privacy and support these teens in making individualized choices that are appropriate for them. As evidenced by the rate of STIs and unplanned pregnancy among marginalized youth populations, barriers such as stigma, discrimination, lack of knowledgeable providers, cost burden,

In her article “OP-ED: Warning: These States May Be Harmful To Your Health” (2014), Yamani Hernandez expresses her distress over the health laws in the states of Alabama, Missouri and Illinois that makes it tougher for teens to acquire medical assistants for abortion services. Hernandez supports her claim by providing examples of laws that are already in place and elaborating why it is making it harder for these teens. Her purpose is to warn readers about the growing issues that is creating lack of resources for teen sexual health in order to encourage better health care options that meets the need for teens rather than political. Hernandez’s tone is apprehensive for an educated audience that wants everyone to be able to have proper health

Elizabeth and Teen Parent Connection crossed paths during Elizabeth’s senior year in high school. After Elizabeth gave birth to her son, she began utilizing TPC by attending the program Parent Group once a week. Elizabeth found that through TPC she was able to receive a great deal of support from the staff. Fast forward 11 years, Elizabeth has graduated from being a participant and volunteer to working at TPC as a Prevention Program Manager. Elizabeth position includes coordinating and distributing a teen pregnancy prevention program that will reach around 14,000 students annually. Though these presentations Elizabeth gives variable information regarding sexual health that teens can carry with them for the rest of their lives. When Elizabeth

Today, many kids don’t know how to deal with the trauma after they were raped because the subject is so taboo that they feel as if it was their fault due to the fact they were never told otherwise in a safe environment. Schools don’t talk about sex unless they are enforcing a strong message of abstinence. This leaves a lot of gray area for most teens today. Because of this, adolescents don’t know the line between consensual and non-consensual sex, who’s to blame in a situation like Melinda’s, and if it is okay to ask any questions about the subject. Kids who were raped and going through this struggle will start to find a way to blame themselves. Victims of sexual assault feel like they need to “confess everything [and] hand over the guilt and mistake and anger to someone else” (Anderson 51). Victims of rape shouldn’t

Studies show that the national average for an adolescent’s first sexual intercourse encounter is seventeen years old. Despite this number being very close to the average age in other industrialized countries, the United States holds a higher percentage of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease (STD) contraction than those countries (Harper et al, 2010, p. 125). It’s becoming evident that while a majority of the nation’s youth is sexually active, they are not doing so with the appropriate knowledge to keep themselves and others healthy.

Empathy is extraordinarily important for children to understand and eventually put into practice, as it exercises their ability to feel and respect the emotions of other people. Empathy also plays a big role in trust and support- both of which are very important aspects of any relationship, and is necessary for living a healthy, functional life in today’s society. In her article, Dovey describes “A 2011 study published in the Annual Review of Psychology […] showed that, when people read about an experience, they display stimulation within the same neurological regions as when they go through that experience themselves.” (Dovey par. 11). This means that when people, or in this case, children, read stories, their brains react as if they were going through the same situations and emotions that they read about. This is a great way for kids to learn about empathy, why it’s important, and how to apply it to their own lives. One may argue that, while reading may trigger empathetic feelings in the majority of people, those who enjoy reading have greater empathetic tendencies than others, making reading to teach empathy only applicable to those who like to read and have these higher-than-average tendencies. Dovey also addresses this, stating that “other studies published in 2006 and 2009 showed […] that people who read a lot of fiction [tended] to be better at empathizing with others (even after the researchers had accounted for the potential bias that people with greater empathetic

While many people are inclined to express indifference regarding this concept, teen pregnancy is one of the most controversial topics in the contemporary society. This experience can be devastating for some individuals, as the fact that they are raw makes it difficult for them to effectively deal with the problem. Society becomes more stressing and most teens who become pregnant come to express feelings related to shame and fear. The fact that these individuals are hesitant about letting their parents know that they are pregnant contributes to their problems and finding help sometimes becomes an impossible mission. Lack of life experience materializes into a more severe type of stress, endangering both the mother and the child.

Researchers Leann Morgan, Levi McClendon, Jenna McCarty, and Kirk Zinck explore what that means for school counselors who will more than likely come into contact with a juvenile sex offender at some point in their career. It’s also likely that school counselors will be the main source of school support for the juvenile sex offender. With this in mind I agree fully with the premise of the article which states that regardless of the student and what they’ve done the counselor must still be capable of not only supporting them but being a champion for the student as well. While I think the thought behind the article is necessary and worth looking into, I think the authors don’t expand enough on what possible policies and procedures could look like in the future concerning counseling juvenile sex offenders. The article is full of statistics that don’t contribute to my further understanding of

Social Justice is defined as “the equal distribution of opportunities, rights, and responsibility despite differences in physical traits and/or beliefs and behavior. It is an international and multifaceted issue that fights for better treatment and equality of people.” (“Pachamama Alliance,” 2017). According to this definition, my understanding of social justice is that it is a way to advocate for other individuals in order to assist their needs in society. For example, I would want to advocate for Hispanic mothers and children who have been through abuse. My empathy towards this group started because of my personal history with an abusive father who suffered from alcoholism. “Empathy involves thinking about a person and the challenges he or she is facing and coming to understand what it is like for that person to have that experience.” (Cameron & Keenan, 2013, p. 72).