Social Support Applied to Adolescent Mothers (Essay Sample)

Social Support Applied to Adolescent Mothers Name Institution  Social Support Applied to Adolescent Mothers Introduction and concept Adolescent stage is a transitional stage where a person develops secondary sexual characteristics. The development of an individual at this stage is complex. It is apparent that a combination of complex parenting roles and complexities in adolescent stage can pose developmental outcomes and health risks to adolescent mothers and their young ones. In many cases, the description given to adolescent mothers with a view to their deficits describes them as poor, undereducated, unlikely to secure employment, lack skills for solving problems and emotional development (Black & Ford-Gilboe, 2003). In adolescent mothers are likely to face negative views owing to their single status and sexual activity. Family issues often influence emotional response, spiritual well being, and physical aspects of individual life (Black & Ford-Gilboe, 2003). Erickson psychosocial theory describes adolescent stage as a period where individuals are able to make their own decisions based on their own opinions. However, theory asserts that early development stages are responsible for behavioral responses observed in an individual at later stages in life (Bredow & Peterson, 2008). Largely, the concept of family role in character development influences almost every stage of an individual. Parental attachment at early stages in life influence later responses that an individual would have in life. It is imperative family support to adolescent mothers should take a centre role in shaping the lives of the young mothers. Studies indicate that families develop skills for solving problems in matters of health based on lifestyle patterns and response style given to illnesses (Bredow & Peterson, 2008). This is a great challenge that adolescent mothers are likely to experience because they have not grown enough to develop skills for solving problems or experienced challenges in adulthood. Social support intervention to adolescent mothers is very essential because it enhances growth to the adolescent mothers. Studies have indicated that support offered to adolescent mothers in terms of parenting practices indicates that adolescent mothers are keen to learn their children’s needs in healthcare (Black & Ford-Gilboe, 2003). Notably, adolescent mothers tend to rely on social support in coping with challenges that they may face. Experts in the health sector believe that family life shapes human health (Bornstein, 2002). This argument is true when one considers how family attachment influence development and growth. Issues that contribute to increase in individual stress level influence general health of an individual. Health behavior is an outcome of good practices, which aim at promoting healthy practices (Gee & Rhodes, 2007). Factors, which promote healthy living among adolescent mothers, include objective self-concept, social support, self-efficacy, physical environment, and parental attention. Psychosocial theory argues that healthy living is a concept that an individual develops through establishing and building close and intimate relationships (Bornstein, 2002).. On the other hand, family theory argues that healthy living in adolescent stage translates into healthy adulthood. Middle Range Theory combines factors in family theory, psychosocial theory, and comprehensive factors, when discussing the concept of healthy living (Bornstein, 2002). Notably, theory assumes that by improving mental and physical health of an individual within one’s environment would create a healthy functional individual. The concept address factors that present limitation to an individual, such as social, mental, physical, familial, or financial and how an individual would lead a healthy life amid these limitations (Bornstein, 2002). It is arguable that psychological theories and family theories provide crucial information used to construct a functional and healthy individual within the concept of the family; they are inadequate in describing a complete picture of healthy and functional family. Patient situation Rosena is a 17-year-old teen that present to the clinic with complaints of headache, fatigue, and depression. The nurse practitioner questions her resent changes in diet, exercise or increased stressors. Rosena explains that her parents have reject her boy friend who impregnated her two years ago. Recently her parents threatened to withdraw their support to Resena and her child. Her child Tony suffers stomach complication quite often. Her boyfriend’s dad rejected her relationship with Mike when the news spread that Mike had impregnated her. Mike is still in college and does not have a job now. He gets his support from his parents. Rosena’s parents had been contemplating taking her back to school although she feels that she is comfortable with her current situation. Her parents have been supportive to her, accepting her conditions and providing guidance and financial support whenever necessary. On many occasion, her parents takes her to medical professionals for therapy and check up. However, Resena had suffered psychological disorders during her early days of pregnancy when she realized her status. Rosena still enjoys love of her family members especially her mother who keeps on monitoring her life conditions. In many occasions at home, Rosena have always engaged in teen games with her neighbors even after bearing a child. Resena’s brother often takes her out to meet with other high school friends during dinners. Family and social details It is evident that even though Resena had got pregnant at 15 years, her family provided supportive care to her and her child. She is living at her home with a baby. Her parents have support her baby financially and offered social support through the advance care to Rosena. However, her parents have disapproved her choice for boy friend Mike. Largely, her parents feel that she should acquire more educatio...