3 The social world of adolescence
The social world of adolescents is central to their health and wellbeing. It can make young people feel vulnerable as well as provide opportunities for support. In this section, you will consider vulnerability in more detail.
In the opening activity, you will reflect on the social context of adolescence, the pressures it places on young people, and how they might respond.
Activity 5: Identifying sources of pressure
a.
Managing friendships
b.
Family relationships
c.
Romantic relationships
d.
Exam pressures
e.
Health concerns about self or others
f.
Lack of clear career motivations/ambitions
The correct answers are a, b, c, d, e and f.
Discussion
It is worth bearing in mind that even if a young person seems to be sailing through life and coping well, there’s a good chance they will still be experiencing a significant number of social pressures. A young person who is clearly having difficulties is more likely to need some support to manage them, and you will find out more about this in Session 6.
Some social situations can be difficult and challenging. You’ll consider the challenges of bullying and loneliness next.
2.1 Peer pressure and risk taking
