HANDBOOK #8

8) Social Relationship

According to a study conducted by the World Health Organization, it has been found that 1 in every 7 individuals aged 10-19 experiences difficulties in their social connections (WHO, 2021). Regrettably, these challenges often go unnoticed and unaddressed. Failing to recognize and address these social issues can leave teenagers vulnerable to the adverse effects of strained friendships and relationships, impacting their overall well-being and daily interactions.

MAIN ISSUES

• Peer Pressure: Teens often feel pressured to conform to the behaviors and attitudes of their peers. This pressure can influence decisions related to academics, appearance, relationships, and risky behaviors. It is when teenagers feel the need to do things or act like their friends. This can affect many parts of their lives, such as school, how they look, who they hang out with, and even doing risky stuff.

• Peer pressure can also make teens want to look a certain way. They might follow what their friends wear, how they look, or even copy their friends' habits.

• Worse, peer pressure can cause teenagers to conduct negative behaviors “to fit in with other people”, including gambling, doing drugs, or unsafe sex.

• Identity Formation Problems: Adolescence is a time of self-discovery, and teens may struggle with defining their identity. This can involve questions about self-worth, values, and personal beliefs. During adolescence, which is the time between being a kid and becoming an adult, teenagers are on a journey to understand themselves better. This can sometimes be challenging since they're figuring out important things about who they are.

• Teenagers might ask themselves: What makes me valuable? What do I care about? What do I believe in? This process of self-discovery is called identity formation.

• It's like they're putting together the pieces of a puzzle to create a picture of who they are. This includes understanding their self-worth, the things that are important to them, and the beliefs they hold.

• Social Media: Social media can amplify social pressures and contribute to feelings of inadequacy, as teens may compare themselves to others, leading to issues related to body image, popularity, and self-esteem. Social media, at its roots, are NOT designed for young children (most are 13+), but the fact that many young people already had an account before this age can mean they are at risk of many things, and among them is comparison with people online, as their minds aren’t fully developed, meaning they can be easily influenced by these “idealized standards”.

IMPACTS

• Low Self-Esteem: Without friends to boost communication and to better understand how others are doing, teens might feel that they are behind on subjects and projects that they are not good at, even though they were hard and confusing in the first place. Low self-esteem in teens can be influenced by a lack of social connections and communication. When teens don't have friends to talk to or share their experiences with, they might struggle to gauge how others are handling difficult work

• For instance, if one finds a subject or project challenging and confusing, not having friends to discuss it with can make them feel isolated - they might wrongly believe that everyone else understands it easily, leading to a sense of being left behind.

• Long-Term Estrangement: Long-term estrangement within relationships often arises due to persistent challenges in communication. When individuals encounter difficulties expressing themselves or understanding each other, it can lead to prolonged disconnection and distance.

• Communication problems may stem from sources such as misunderstandings or a lack of effective listening. Over time, these issues can escalate, creating emotional barriers that become difficult to break down.

• In cases of long-term estrangement, the initial problems that caused the communication breakdown may become obscured, making it challenging for individuals to pinpoint the root causes of their discord, allowing unresolved issues to continue to fester.

SOLUTIONS

Trust is foundational in any relationship. Work towards rebuilding trust if it has been broken, and demonstrate consistent and trustworthy behavior over time. To rebuild trust in social relationships, prioritize open communication, consistency, sincere apologies, and respecting boundaries. Demonstrate reliability, empathy, and a commitment to growth. Acknowledge differences and value diversity. Patience and genuine effort from all parties are essential for fostering a strong and trusting connection over time.