Adolescence Assignment: Contemporary Issues and Resources Essay

Adolescence and teenage are transitional phases filled with numerous contemporary issues that may affect behavior and well-being. This period is marked by physical, psychological, and social changes which determine vulnerability to external stressors (Dumont et al., 2022). The characteristic impulsiveness, curiosity, and aggrandized feelings of invulnerability predispose this age group to contemporary issues such as inappropriate behavior, risky sexual explorations, teen pregnancy, substance abuse, internet addiction, bullying, and self-esteem and self-image issues (Sharma et al., 2020). The purpose of this paper is to explore internet addiction as a contemporary issue of choice. The specific aspects addressed will include internet addiction description, associated external stressors, assessment strategies to screen for internet addiction and associated external stressors, ethical parameters, and available support interventions.

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Internet Addiction

The increased use of the internet, especially by teens has been associated with consequential internet addiction. Internet addiction is a problematic and compulsive use of the internet over a long duration with associated functional impairment in various aspects of the affected individual’s life (Gergely, 2022). It may be considered a compulsive-impulsive disorder due to the nature of presenting symptoms though no specific diagnostic criteria or specifications in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual DSM-V exist (Gergely, 2022). Such symptoms include excessive preoccupation with the internet, feeling the urge to use the internet, persistent efforts to cease using the internet, the devotion of more time to excessive internet use than is reasonable, and marked discomfort when away from the internet (Ozturk et al., 2021). Internet addiction is associated with various adverse physical and psychological outcomes and social problems. These include reduced quality of life, insomnia, ophthalmic issues, substance abuse, anxiety, depression, hyperactivity disorders, and diminished social interactions (Noroozi et al., 2021). Early identification and appropriate support are thus pivotal in mitigating these negative effects.

External Stressors Associated with Internet Addiction

Internet addiction can be exacerbated by various external stressors. These factors can be simply classified into personal factors, family/school factors, perceived internet attributes, and environmental factors (Chung et al., 2019). The identified predisposing factors include the young age of onset of internet use, being male, substance abuse, low socioeconomic status, and psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression (Tóth et al., 2021). Family dysfunction, high academic achievement school pressure, interpersonal conflicts, and easy access to internet resources (Chung et al., 2019). The animosity and entertainment from the internet are some of the key attributes that contribute to addiction. Identification of external stressors during the assessment is integral in guiding holistic management interventions.

Assessment Strategies to Screen Internet Addiction and External Stressors

Various instrumental tools are available for screening the presence and level of internet addiction. These include the Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire, the Internet Addiction Test, the Compulsive Internet Use Scale, and the Internet-Related Experiences Questionnaire among others (Tafur-Mendoza et al., 2020). These tests evaluate the possibility of addiction through various indicators that measure addictive internet use attributes. The Internet Addiction Test is widely adopted and more reliable. It assesses for escapism, loss of control, compulsivity, dependency, and associated personal and social negative effects (Samaha et al., 2018). This is achieved through the administration of a questionnaire. The scores from the findings can dictate the intensity of internet addiction and obsession as normal, mild, moderate, or severe (Samaha et al., 2018). Corroborative history can be obtained from the parents and caregivers to further support the diagnosis and fill any information gaps in the assessment of the minors.

Additional Assessment Questions and Ethical Parameters

The questions during the assessment of a teen for internet addiction will evaluate for related symptoms and effects. Questions on the excessive duration spent on the internet, the frequency of escapism, the presence of secrecy or defensiveness about internet use, any neglect of personal responsibilities, and diminished interpersonal relationships are helpful. Questions on the presence of external stressors such as family conflicts, academic pressures, and pre-existing conditions such as depression should also be addressed.

It is natural for parents to get involved in the health and well-being of their children. Ethical considerations on disclosure of information to parents following assessments of minors are important. Confidentiality for children should be respected, especially for those with decision-making capacity (Noiseux et al., 2018). Parental authority in decision-making should be reconciled with the child’s best interests since children may not have full autonomy. A trusting relationship between the minor and the healthcare professional is key and promotes honesty and health-seeking behavior among adolescents. Only information that is deemed necessary, contributory, and beneficial to care should be shared with parents including the diagnosis and management. The disclosure should bring no harm to the adolescent patient.

Support Options

Various supportive and therapeutic interventions are available for teens with internet addiction despite most of these measures being experimental. These include psychotherapeutic and pharmacological approaches. Effective psychotherapeutic interventions are cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, group therapy, and family therapy (Bickham et al., 2021). These interventions offer psychoeducation to the patients and their families with resultant positive behavior change. The addicted teen can identify problematic addictive behavior and unhealthy coping habits with the resultant development of healthy coping strategies. Pharmacological treatment is often used to manage predisposing conditions such as depression and negative effects such as insomnia. A combination of these therapies may be necessary for better outcomes. Adherence to treatment recommendations should be emphasized to prevent relapses of addictive and compulsive internet use.

Conclusion

Teenage is a transitional phase that is associated with various contemporary issues such as teen pregnancy, drug abuse, and internet addiction among others. This may be attributed to impulsiveness, curiosity, and vulnerability to external stressors that predispose this age group to inappropriate risky behaviors that have detrimental effects on health and well-being. Internet addiction is particularly common among adolescents and is associated with problematic, compulsive, and excessive internet use. The associated predisposing external include family conflicts, academic pressure, and pre-existing conditions such as anxiety. Assessment and screening involve the use of assessment tools such as the Internet Addiction Test that measure targeted indicators such as escapism and dependency. Ethical considerations such as confidentiality in information disclosure are essential. Psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy and pharmacological treatment is available for the management of internet addiction.

References

Bickham, D. S. (2021). Current research and viewpoints on internet addiction in adolescents. Current Pediatrics Reports, 9(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40124-020-00236-3

Chung, Lee, & Lee. (2019). Personal factors, internet characteristics, and environmental factors contributing to adolescent internet addiction: a public health perspective. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(23), 4635. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16234635

Dumont, R., Richard, V., Baysson, H., Lorthe, E., Piumatti, G., Schrempft, S., Wisniak, A., Barbe, R. P., Posfay-Barbe, K. M., Guessous, I., & Stringhini, S. (2022). Determinants of adolescents’ health-related quality of life and psychological distress during the covid-19 pandemic. Plos One, 17(8). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0272925

Gergely, F. (2022). Internet addiction. Life, 12(6), 861. https://doi.org/10.3390/life12060861

Noiseux, J., Rich, H., Bouchard, N., Noronha, C., & Carnevale, F. A. (2018). Children need privacy too: Respecting confidentiality in pediatric practice. Paediatrics & Child Health, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1093/pch/pxy047

Noroozi, F., Hassanipour, S., Eftekharian, F., Eisapareh, K., & Kaveh, M. H. (2021). Internet addiction effect on the quality of life: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Scientific World Journal, 2021, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/2556679

Ozturk, F. O., & Ayaz-Alkaya, S. (2021). Internet addiction and psychosocial problems among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 35(6), 595–601. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2021.08.007

Samaha, A. A., Fawaz, M., El Yahfoufi, N., Gebbawi, M., Abdallah, H., Baydoun, S. A., Ghaddar, A., & Eid, A. H. (2018). Assessing the psychometric properties of the internet addiction test (IAT) among Lebanese College students. Frontiers in Public Health, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2018.00365

Sharma, E., & Seshadri, S. P. (2020). Adolescence: Contemporary issues in the clinic and beyond. Asian journal of psychiatry, 47, 101803. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2019.09.021

Tafur-Mendoza, A. A., Acosta-Prado, J. C., Zárate-Torres, R. A., & Ramírez-Ospina, D. E. (2020). Assessing the psychometric properties of the internet addiction test in Peruvian University students. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(16), 5782. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17165782

Tóth, G., Kapus, K., Hesszenberger, D., Pohl, M., Kósa, G., Kiss, J., Pusch, G., Fejes, É., Tibold, A., & Feher, G. (2021). Prevalence and risk factors of internet addiction among Hungarian High School Teachers. Life, 11(3), 194. https://doi.org/10.3390/life11030194

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Assessment Description
Research the range of contemporary issues teenagers face today. In a 500-750-word paper, choose one issue (besides teen pregnancy) and discuss its effect on adolescent behavior and overall well-being. Include the following in your submission:

Describe the contemporary issue and explain what external stressors are associated with this issue.
Outline assessment strategies to screen for this issue and external stressors during an assessment for an adolescent patient. Describe what additional assessment questions you would need to ask and define the ethical parameters regarding what you can and cannot share with the parent or guardian.
Discuss support options for adolescents encountering external stressors. Include specific support options for the contemporary issue you presented.
You are required to cite a minimum of three peer-reviewed sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the last 5 years, appropriate for the assignment criteria, and relevant to nursing practice.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.