Part II:  Establishing a Positive Self-Image

According to Research:

1. Self-esteem assessed for girls between the ages of 8-9 reveal that 60% of girls report positive feelings, compared to 67% of boys (LeCroy & Daley, 2001)
2. Teens between the ages of  16-17 indicated that only 29% of girls felt positive feelings about themselves compared to 46% of boys (Roshar & Rierdan, 1994)

The following tips can be used to help teens develop a positive self-image or to think favorably about the unique traits that make them who they are.  If you are a parent, consider the following discussion points with your daughter to help her increase her self-image.

Adolescence can be a particularly awkward stage for anyone.  But today’s adolescents face new pressures as a result of advances in technology and easier access to the media.  With a decrease in protective factors including a demise in family and community relationships and an increase in risk factors including the media barrage, advent of cyber bulling, and easy access to cigarettes, drugs, and weapons, contemporary society is becoming an increasingly more dangerous place for adolescents (LeCroy & Daley, 2001).

Today is the last installment of my three part blog series in which I have been discussing trends in drug and alcohol use, prevalent among the teen population.  Today I will provide advice for discussing these serious issues with teens.

Talking with teens about drugs and alcohol is extremely important but it can also be a very difficult conversation to broach.  Just thinking about having a conversation with a teen about drugs and alcohol can be stressful, so below I have listed some advice to help ease the tension.

Unfortunately some teens do experiment with drugs and alcohol during their adolescence.  Instead of denying the fact that teens experiment with drugs and alcohol, it is important to become educated in regards to these current trends.

Today we begin a three part blog series in which I will discuss trends in drug and alcohol, use prevalent among the teen population.  I will also provide advice and discussion points to use when discussing these serious issues with teens.