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Problems in Adolescence -- Overview

Problems in Adolescence -- Overview. “Storm and Stress” legacy In reality, most A’s manage and many are resilient when coping with problems Still, teens and twenties are a time when various probs are more likely to occur (e.g., risky automobile driving; schizophrenia)

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Problems in Adolescence -- Overview

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  1. Problems in Adolescence -- Overview • “Storm and Stress” legacy • In reality, most A’s manage and many are resilient when coping with problems • Still, teens and twenties are a time when various probs are more likely to occur (e.g., risky automobile driving; schizophrenia) • Are problems “A-limited” – transitory – or “life-course”? (Origin & onset is important.)

  2. Biological (e.g. prefrontal cortex; Puberty) Psychological (e.g., sensation- seeking, resiliency, ability to manage stress) Socio-cultural (e.g., expectations, gender roles, Peers, neighborhood) Factors involved in problems Bio-Psycho-Social perspective

  3. Two Broad Problem Types • Internalizing Problems – primarily affect a person’s internal world (cause distress) • More common in females • Externalizing Problems – create difficulties in a person’s external world • More common among males • Often motivated by thrill-seeking, not necessarily underlying unhappiness or psychopathology Reality: Not so distinct -- problems are often a combo of internal/external (e.g., substance abuse)

  4. Internalizing Problems Examples: Schizophrenia (The Secret Life of the Brain, PBS DVD Eating disorders Depression and anxiety

  5. Externalizing Problems Examples: Risky driving behavior Delinquency issues Substance abuse

  6. Driver Crash Involvement: Fatality Rates per 100,000: 1997 Sex and age diffs

  7. Risky Driving 16 – 24 year olds have the highest rates of auto accidents, injuries, & fatalities Possible Reasons? Belief that friends approve of risky driving Driver Inexperience? Driving while impaired Not wearing a seatbelt Risks taken while driving Lack of parental monitoring Cultural norms that glorify speeding and racing Sensation-seeking personality Aggressiveness Optimistic Bias

  8. Shope’s Model of Young Driver Crash Risks (2002)

  9. Delinquency issues • (Increasing in severity) • Delinquency – destructive, antisocial, and/or lawbreaking activities • Oppositional Defiant Disorder (DSM-IV criteria) • Conduct disorder (DSM-IV criteria)

  10. Two Types of Delinquency (Moffit, 1993) Life-course-persistent delinquents • Pattern of problems from childhood • May originate in neuropsychological deficits (difficult temperament, LD) (see next slide) • Likely to grow up in high risk environment Adolescence-delimited delinquents • No signs of early problems • Period of occasional criminal activity between ages of 12-25 (e.g., vandalism)

  11. Neurobiological influences in conduct problems • A’s with conduct disorder • Fail to show normal fear • Fail to avoid punishment • May have under-aroused CNS • (next slide)

  12. Arousal level in boys (as a predictor of criminality) Those with later convictions have lower levels of arousal 15 10 5 0 Adrenaline excretion(ng/min) Nonstressful situation Stressful situation No criminal conviction Criminal conviction

  13. Prevention and Treatment • Prevention programs for children who show signs of risk for serious delinquency (life-course pattern) • Individual and family therapy • Group therapy • Scared Straight “Boot Camp” • Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare (OBH) • Wilderness &/or outdoor adventure therapy

  14. Preventing Crime & Delinquency • Problems with prevention programs: • Participation is typically non-voluntary • Prevention comes too late (in adolescence) after behavior patterns have been established • Often have too narrow an approach • The Multisytemic Approach has been met with some success • MST includes parent training, job training, vocational counseling, development of neighborhood activities and centers – directing the energy of delinquents in positive directions. • See the next slide for data on MST.

  15. Preventing Crime & Delinquency Multisytemic therapy (MST) vs. usual Juvenile Justice Services for serious adolescent offenders

  16. Substance Use& Abuse • ATOD – Alcohol, Cigarettes, other drugs (e.g., MJ, cocaine, LSD, X) • A & T use common in adolescence and emerging adulthood • When is use problematic (e.g., “addiction,” substance abuse)? Biopsychosocial approach (“teen brain DVD”)

  17. Gatewaytheoryin Substance abuse • Drinking beer and wine • Smoking cigarettes and drinking hard liquor • Smoking marijuana • Using “hard” drugs

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