Harmful Attitudes for Teens

Rebellion

• In the movies, teens are often stereotyped as wild and rebellious and always at odds with mom and dad. According to experts at KidsHealth, this is not typical of most teens. Yes, teens may begin to pull away from parents as they work toward independence, but this is not a cause for rebellious behavior. A healthy teen is forming a moral code and starting to think more rationally as he asserts his opinion and develops a sense of who he is.

  A teen who is rebelling is often seeking attention, experiencing peer pressure or struggling to acquire a self-identity, says Dr. Ann Gatty of Empowering Parents. Parents can help a teen break free from rebellious attitudes by opening the lines of communication to discuss frustrations, praising accomplishments of their teen and developing a mutual understanding of the consequences of unacceptable behavior.

Bitterness

• Holding on to grudges and bitterness can be a harmful attitude for a teen to adopt. A teen who is resentful or bitter may become possessive, demanding, negative and withdrawn, according to the ministers at Abingdon Youth, a ministry curriculum resource. If bitterness continues, your teen may even show a lack of gratitude, experience intense jealousy and signs of paranoia. Help your teen unleash the reign of a bitter attitude by discussing the long-term effects of resentment. Ask your teen to identify how it feels when she is bitter. Does she experience headaches and stomachaches? Does her face get red? Do her hands feel tense? Showing your teen how a harmful attitude can affect her not only mentally but also physically may help her to let go of the anger she has built up inside.

Stress

• Discounting the level of stress a teen experiences will not help you support or relate with your child. In fact, teen stress can be a direct cause of a harmful attitude. Your teen may feel overwhelmed while balancing household duties, academic work, social obligations and extracurricular activities and athletics. In addition, many teens face peer pressure, rejection, bullying, unhealthy friendships, poor body image and grief on a regular basis. These difficult life events can cause stress that is harmful to your teen. In fact, when overwhelmed with stress and anxiety, your teen may become impulsive, depressed, self-destructive and fearful, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Parents can help teens ward off the harmful attitudes caused by stress by actively listening to their teen̵7;s concerns, supporting involvement in social activities and modeling stress management skills. When a teen's harmful attitude is directed at parents, enforcing consequences and maintaining consistent rules is especially important. Give your teen time to cool off but reiterate that respect in your household is nonnegotiable.

Peer Pressure

• Peers and friends are a primary influence in a teen̵7;s life. She may want to be admired by her peers or liked by classmates and feel the need to change her identity to be accepted. When a teen begins to lose her identity and succumbs to peer pressure, her attitude about rules, consequences and even morals may begin to change. Establish strong communication with your teen and discuss positive decision-making skills to combat the risk of harmful attitudes that may develop as a result of peer pressure. According to the American Medical Association, as reported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, teenagers who have a strong relationship and open communication with positive adult role models are less likely to succumb to peer pressure and engage in risky behaviors.

Seek Professional Help

• When harmful attitudes put your teen in harm̵7;s way, it is important to seek help from professionals. Schedule an appointment with your child̵7;s school counselor, a community social worker or a family therapist to help him verbalize his feelings. A support group or youth ministry program may also provide an outlet for your teen to socialize with teens experiencing the same harmful attitudes.