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Adolescent girls in distress: a high-risk intersection
1Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Adolescence
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Adolescent girls in distress face unique risks at the intersection of adolescence, gender, and social challenges. Targeted interventions are crucial for their well-being.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Adolescent Health
- Social Psychiatry
Background:
- Adolescent girls are a vulnerable population, situated at the convergence of three risk categories: adolescents, females, and individuals experiencing social distress.
- Understanding the specific challenges faced by this group is critical for developing effective support systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define the behavioral and personality characteristics of adolescent girls in distress.
- To develop an integrative theoretical model to understand their unique problems and inform diagnostic and treatment tools.
- To compare their developmental profiles with general adolescents, adolescent boys, and adolescent girls.
Main Methods:
- Empirical research conducted in Israel and the United States.
- Analysis of behavioral and personality features.
- Development of a theoretical model comparing developmental profiles across six areas: physical, cognitive, social, emotional, interpersonal relationships, and family status.
Main Results:
- Adolescent girls in distress exhibit extreme profiles across all six developmental areas compared to other groups.
- Inconsistencies in messages from intrafamilial, social, and expectation versus opportunity levels contribute to their distress.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent girls in distress represent a distinct group with profound developmental challenges.
- A multidimensional intervention program, incorporating nonconventional techniques and tailored policies, is necessary to address their specific needs.