1042
Views & Citations42
Likes & Shares
Background: Romantic relationship is one among the defining feature and
developmental tasks of adolescence, often considered to have significant
influence on the course of other developmental tasks, overall health and
wellbeing.
Objective: The present paper made an attempt to review different mental health
promotion manuals developed for adolescents in India with the aim to understand
whether those manuals address the emerging issues of adolescence in romantic
relationship.
Method: Seven manuals were selected for this purpose and reviewed based on its
content, methodology, target population and how issues pertaining to romantic
relationship has been addressed.
Results: It was observed that all the manuals covered different aspects related
to developmental needs and concerns of adolescents in general; especially the
developmental significance of romantic relationship with its socio cultural
background has received little attention.
Conclusion: This article implied for developing comprehensive manuals on emerging
issues of adolescents in romantic relationship as a great need of the time.
Keywords: Infatuation, Love, Adolescence, Mental health manuals, Romantic
relationship
INTRODUCTION
Adolescence is a crucial period for every
individuals with ample of rapid physical, psychological and social changes [1].
Romantic relationship is one among the defining feature [2] and developmental
task of adolescence [3]. It is also considered to have significant influence on
the course of other developmental tasks [4]. Existing literature in this area
is overwhelmingly emphasized on the importance of romantic relationship in the
lives of young people as they move from early to late adolescence [5].
On one hand healthy romantic relationship
have potential benefits for adolescence, on the other hand unhealthy
relationships pose end number of risks and long-lasting impact on them [3].
Apart from this, quality of romantic relationship can also have enduring
effects on self-esteem of adolescence and shape their personal values regarding
romance, intimate relationships, and sexuality [6]. Many of these issues are
being addressed through various government programmes, policies, school mental
health programme and adolescent education programmes [7]. However it is
estimated that only 1% adolescents receive quality counseling, health and
medical services in India [8].
Pertaining to mental health of adolescents’ school mental health programme plays a vital role, even in addressing the concerns related to romantic relationship. In India as a part of school mental health programme primary attention is given to developmental needs, prevention of high risk behaviors such as substance abuse, sexuality, HIV/AIDS and promotion of mental health through life skills education, mental health orientation to teachers, student enrichment programmes, etc. [9]. Various governmental and nongovernmental institutions have developed manuals in line with such programmes. Even so very minimal focus is vested upon romantic relationship among adolescents despite of its magnitude which may results in abiding impact on their life. In this context the present paper made an attempt to review the available manuals in India developed to address mental health promotion of Adolescents in Romantic Relationship.
METHODS
The present article is a narrative review of manuals and training
modules on adolescent mental health in India with special focus on adolescent
romantic relationship. Aim of the article is to understand whether the existing
manuals address the emerging issues of adolescence in romantic relationship.
The literature search for the present study was both manual and
electronic and carried out by using appropriate key words such as Adolescent
Mental Health, School Mental Health in India, Manuals and Modules on
Adolescents. Researcher could gather total 7 manuals which are published and
available freely with full text from different sources including website of
Government of India, organizations working/publishing resource materials for
Children and Adolescents like National Institute of Public cooperation and
Child Development (NIPCCD), National council on Education, Research and
Training (NCERT).
RESULTS
A brief description on the manuals reviewed with its methodology and key
areas covered is given in the Table 1.
The results show that most of the manuals are training manuals with activities
and reading materials designed for teachers, counselors, parents and students
as its target population. While majority have adopted life skills approach and
few used general adolescent mental health programmes. Participatory methodology
was followed in all the manuals using different techniques such as group
activities, case study method, role play, games, etc. Utmost importance was
given to developmental needs and issues, sexuality and reproductive health,
substance abuse, enhancing academic competence, stress management and
psychosocial competence (skills) in general as its focal areas. Most of the
manuals are field tested and found to be effective in enhancing psychosocial
competence and mental health among adolescents. Interestingly the concept of
romantic relationship has been discussed under the domain of interpersonal
relationship with peer and opposite sex in almost all the manuals. Case
vignettes, case study and group activities were used to enable adolescents to
identify the difference between romance, love, infatuation etc., emphasizing
upon accepting and maintaining healthy relationships, dealing with pressure to
have sex, consequences of healthy/unhealthy relationship and different ways of
handling the crisis situation in romantic relationship. Through this attempt
was made to enable adolescents to identify their feelings and generate thoughts
on healthy ways of dealing with stressors in interpersonal relationship and
skill enhancement in this regard. Among the 7 selected manuals only one manual
deals with handling break-up and managing stress in the context of romantic
relationship. Surprisingly, the developmental significance of and issues
related to romantic relationship, skill enhancement in maintaining healthy
relationship, dealing effectively with the consequences of unhealthy romantic
relationship, risk behaviors and prevention of it, have received little
attention in all the manuals. Role of school counselors becomes very important
while delivering school mental health programmes and providing counseling
services to address the needs of adolescents.
DISCUSSION
As a whole all the manuals reviewed have focused upon overall
developmental needs, psychosocial issues and skill enhancement in handling them
effectively during adolescence. Existing literature in the area of adolescent
romantic relationship emphasized on its developmental significance [10]. In
connection to it the manuals also recognized this finding but failed in
addressing it holistically by considering it as one part of adolescent
concerns. It was also highlighted by the researches that romantic relationship
may pose a great risk on adolescence in different areas of life including
decreased academic performance, unsteadiness of mental health characterized by
depression, antisocial behaviors, and dating violence [6,11-13]. The manuals
have attempted to address these issues in a general context through skill
enhancement to deal with such problems, undermining the influence of romantic
relationship them. Studies have also focused upon sexuality and reproductive
health in the context of romantic relationship and reported that dating
relationships put teens at peril of sexually transmitted infections and teenage
pregnancy. Inducing pressure for sexual activity [3] especially on girls who
have had prior experience of sexual engagement and tolerance towards sexual
coercion is considered to be acceptable among young teens as reported by the
researches [14]. Probably because of these findings manuals have thrown light
on premarital sexual relationships, i.e., both consensual and non-consensual
under the heading of sexuality and reproductive health and emphasized upon safe
sex practices, prevention of teenage pregnancy and their rights. Predominately
case vignettes and group discussion methodology was adopted in addressing the
consequences of unprotected sex, importance of saying ‘NO’ (assertive skills),
negotiation skills to responding to their partners and to enable adolescents to
be in a healthy relationship.
In west studies proved that the risks associated with adolescent
romantic relationships can be minimized by helping young people to develop
skills that support healthy relationships [15] through school and
community-based programs [16]. For instance, expert convening on Healthy Teen
Relationships, held at Atlanta in 2011 recommended the need for identifying
quality of relationship and fundamental skills relevant for managing a healthy
adolescent romantic relationship, designing a continuum of healthy and
unhealthy teen dating behaviors; including diverse youth perspectives to
facilitate the development of a definition of healthy teen relationships and
empowering youth to lead decisions about the language and tools used to promote
healthy relationships. They have also suggested that healthy teen relationship
education can take place in variety of settings, such as communities, schools,
and health clinics [17]. In accordance with these recommendations the manuals
reviewed from Indian context also stressed on different areas related to meaning
and characteristics of healthy and unhealthy teen relationship along with
introducing the difference between infatuation, love and friendship under the
heading of interpersonal relationship. Although based on the review it was
observed that developmental significance of adolescence romantic relationship
is not addressed adequately and also issues pertaining to romantic relationship
and dealing with the consequences of it is not given much importance. India by
virtue of having collectivistic culture the concept of romantic relationship is
shaped by end number of socio-cultural factors. Often being in romantic
relationship especially during adolescence is considered as something
obnoxious, it further worsens if it is a girl. Hence during recent years,
various issues coming into light especially among adolescent girls in romantic
relationship such as running away from home, child marriage, unsafe sexual
relationships and teenage pregnancy [18-20].
Thus there is an immense need for addressing these issues at family,
schools and community level considering the socio-cultural determinants of
romantic relationship among adolescence in India. Manuals could be one of the
key tools for planning and implementing such programmes. Therefore focus of the
manuals should be shifted from general mental health needs of the adolescents
to, addressing their concerns related to romantic relationship, designing
preventive measures against risk taking behaviors and promoting mental health
and overall wellbeing. Apart from this more attention also need to be given to
research, training and therapeutic services in the area of adolescent romantic
relationship. School social workers have crucial role in addressing their
issues, preventing risk taking behaviors and promoting their mental health.
School social work being a helping profession having the expertise of diverse
socio-cultural understanding of the people has a great implication at
preventive, promotive and curative level in this area [21-23]. School social
workers could play a key role in addressing various concerns highlighted by the
studies in this area such as support needs and skill development in maintaining
healthy relationships without violence, maintaining emotional stability,
enhancing parent teen relationship, balancing other developmental tasks like
academic and career growth, healthy sexual behavior, launching out as
responsibilities, marital preparedness, improving family and peer
relationships, promoting mental health and wellbeing. All these can be achieved
through developing comprehensive manuals on emerging issues among adolescence.
Alongside research studies also need to be conducted in feasibility testing of
such programmes and evaluating its efficacy.
1. Blakemore SJ, Burnett S, Dahl RE (2010) The
role of puberty in the developing adolescent brain. Hum Brain Mapp 31: 926-933.
2. Sullivan H S (1953) The interpersonal theory
of psychiatry.
3. Furman W (2002) The emerging field of
adolescent romantic relationships. Curr Dir Psychol Sci 11: 177-180.
4. Furman W, Shaffer L (2003) The role of
romantic relationships in adolescent development. Adolescent Romantic Relations
and Sexual Behavior: Theory, Research and Practical Implications, pp: 3-22.
5. Connolly J, Craig W, Goldberg A, Pepler D
(2004) Mixed‐gender groups, dating and romantic relationships in early
adolescence. J Res Adolesc 14: 185-207.
6. Barber BL, Eccles JS (2003) The joy of
romance: Healthy adolescent relationships as an educational agenda. Adolescent
Romantic Relations and Sexual Behavior: Theory, Research and Practical
Implications, pp: 355-370.
7. Sivagurunathan C, Umadevi R, Rama R,
Gopalakrishnan S (2015) Adolescent health: Present status and its related
programmes in India. Are we in the right direction? J Clin Diagn Res 9:
LE01-le06.
8. Mission NH (2015) Training manual for
adolescent health counselor facilitator's guide. India: National Rural Health
Mission.
9. Kumar D, Bharath S, Hirisave U, Agarwal S,
Shah H (2015) School mental health programs in India. School Mental Health:
Global Challenges and Opportunities, pp: 95-104.
10. Giordano PC, Manning WD, Longmore MA (2010)
Affairs of the heart: Qualities of adolescent romantic relationships and sexual
behavior. J Res Adolesc 20: 983-1013.
11. Monahan K C, Dmitrieva J, Cauffman E (2014)
Bad romance: Sex differences in the longitudinal association between romantic
relationships and deviant behavior. J Res Adolesc 24: 12-26.
12. Quatman T, Sampson K, Robinson C, Watson CM
(2001). Academic, motivational and emotional correlates of adolescent dating.
Genet Soc Gen Psychol Monogr 127: 211-234.
13. Williams TS, Connolly J, Pepler D, Craig W,
Laporte L (2008) Risk models of dating aggression across different adolescent
relationships: A developmental psychopathology approach. J Consult Clin Psychol
76: 622-632.
14. Albert B, Brown S, Flanigan CM (2003) 14 and
younger: The sexual behavior of young adolescents. Washington, DC: National
Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, pp: 31-56.
15. Wood E, Senn C Y, Desmarais S, Park L,
Verberg N (2002) Sources of information about dating and their perceived influence
on adolescents. J Adolesc Res 17: 401-417.
16. Foshee VA, Bauman KE, Arriaga XB, Helms RW,
Koch GG (1998) An evaluation of safe dates, an adolescent dating violence
prevention program. Am J Public Health 88: 45-50.
17. Foundation RWJ (2011) Healthy teen relationships:
Expert recommendations to improve research and practice on adolescent dating
relationships. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, p: 51.
18. Chandrashekhar CR, Kishore Kumar KV, Moily S,
Raghuram A, Parthasarathy R, et al. (2007) Manual on Students’ Counselling for
College Students. C. R. Chandrashekhar Ed.
19. http://www.cbse.nic.in/cce/life_skills_cce.pdf
20. Manjula M, Herbert H, Singhal M, Sharma M
(2014) Stress management manual for college students and parents. NIMHANS:
Bengaluru.
21. NCERT (2010) Adolescence education
programme-training and resource materials. India: National Council of
Educational Research and Training.
22. Srikala Bharath VKK (2005) Activity manual
for the teachers on health promotion using life skills approaches. 2nd
Edn. India: National Institute of mental health and Neurosciences.
23. Vranda MN (2014). Promotion of mental health
and wellbeing of adolescents in schools. NIMHANS: Bengaluru.
QUICK LINKS
- SUBMIT MANUSCRIPT
- RECOMMEND THE JOURNAL
-
SUBSCRIBE FOR ALERTS
RELATED JOURNALS
- Journal of Carcinogenesis and Mutagenesis Research (ISSN: 2643-0541)
- Journal of Oral Health and Dentistry (ISSN: 2638-499X)
- International Journal of Diabetes (ISSN: 2644-3031)
- Journal of Blood Transfusions and Diseases (ISSN:2641-4023)
- Advance Research on Endocrinology and Metabolism (ISSN: 2689-8209)
- International Journal of Medical and Clinical Imaging (ISSN:2573-1084)
- Journal of Pathology and Toxicology Research