Adolescents' Problem
Behaviors
Behaviors are referred to as
actions and responses that can be directly observed by the senses (Passer &
Smith, 2007) and everything that a person does that could be measured in some
way. Thus, this includes internal events such as feelings, attitudes and mental
processes (Dizon, Fulgencio, Gregorio, Obias, Vendivel & Gines, 2003, 2008).
According to Jessor & Jessor (1977) problem behaviors are defined as those
behaviors that deviate from societal norms where many such norms are age-graded.
For the purpose of this research,
problem behaviors are defined as those behaviors that: 1) deviate from age-graded
societal norms and those that: 2) impair normal functioning. Societal norms are
principles or rules people are expected to observe; they represent the dos or
don’ts of society (Appelbaum, Carr, Duneir & Giddens, 2009). Thus, the
behaviors like cigarette or tobacco smoking, alcohol intoxication, dangerous
drugs use and abuse and premarital sexual activity are considered problem
behaviors as these behaviors are deviations from age-graded societal norms. For
example, it is the societal rule that minors or those persons twenty-one years
of age and below, as defined by Article 2 of the Presidential Decree No. 603
known as The Child and Youth Welfare Code of the Philippines, are not allowed
to smoke and drink alcoholic beverages, and parents are mandated, by Art 55. on
Vices, Chapter 3 of the Presidential
Decree No. 603, to take special care to prevent the child from becoming
addicted to intoxicating drinks, narcotic drugs, smoking, gambling, and other
vices or harmful practices. Likewise, secondary schools have sanctions on
adolescent students caught smoking and drinking especially in the school
premises. This is especially true with
dangerous drugs use, where dangerous drugs are outlawed and are illegal as
provided in the Republic Act No. 9165 known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs
Act of 2002. In the case of premarital sexual activity which is considered a
problem behavior as taken in the context of the following Articles of the Presidential
Decree No. 603: Art. 9. Levels of Growth. - The child shall be
given adequate care, assistance and guidance through his various levels of
growth, from infancy to early and later childhood, to puberty and adolescence,
and when necessary even after he shall have attained age 21. Art. 10. Phases of Development. - The child
shall enjoy special protection and shall be given opportunities and facilities,
by law and by other means, to ensure and enable his fullest development
physically, mentally, emotionally, morally, spiritually and socially in a
healthy and normal manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity appropriate
to the corresponding developmental stage. Art. 13. Social and Emotional Growth. - Steps
shall be taken to insure the child's healthy social and emotional growth. These
shall be undertaken by the home in collaboration with the schools and other
agencies engaged in the promotion of child welfare. Art. 14. Morality. - High moral principles
should be instilled in the child, particularly in the home, the school, and the
church to which he belongs. Art. 15.
Spiritual Values. - The promotion of the child's spiritual well-being
according to the precepts of his religion should, as much as possible, be
encouraged by the State. Thus, taken in
the context and the meaning of the Articles 9, 10, 13, 14, and 15 of the Title
I The General Principles of the Presidential Decree No. 603 of the Child and
Youth Welfare Code of the Philippines, premarital sexual (PMS) activity is
considered a deviance from the society’s norm. For instance, in Articles 14 and
15 which talk about morality and spiritual values congruent to one’s religion as
encouraged by the State as much as possible; accordingly in Catholic tradition
- premarital sex is gravely contrary to the dignity of persons and of human
sexuality, and sexual pleasure is morally disordered when sought for itself,
isolated from its procreative and unitive purposes (Catechism of the Catholic
Church, 2353, 2351). The Catholic
Church has declared that PMS is gravely contrary to the person’s dignity and to
human sexuality maybe because she gives emphasis to the procreative and unitive
nature of sex and thus declares that it is a sacred act and should be done
within marriage to preserve or uphold its sanctity. As such, Jane Smith (1998) suggests that engaging
in premarital sex is “terribly irresponsible likened to drunk driving
and worse than smoking” (para. 13). Likewise for Articles 9, 10 and 13, of the
Title I The General Principles of the Presidential Decree No. 603 of the Child
and Youth Welfare Code of the Philippines, the general notion is that
sex as an age-graded norm should be done appropriately to certain level of
growth and development of the person whether it is physical, mental, emotional,
moral, spiritual and social development. Thus when (premarital) sex is engaged
without the above considerations it is deemed as a deviance from the society’s
norms.
With regards to the second criteria
of problem behaviors -impairment of normal functioning would be defined in the
context of clinical judgment of an individual’s overall level of functioning.
In this case determining the overall level of functioning is based on the
Global Assessment of Functioning (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders-IV-TR, 2005, p. 34). And overall level of functioning is evaluated as
seen in the effects related to the biological, psychological and socio-cultural
criteria as mental health or wellness of an individual is grounded on
biological, psychological and sociocultural criteria (Dizon, et al., 2003,
2008). For example, according to the field of developmental psychology which
studies on physical, mental, social growth of children and adolescents, and health psychology which studies ways of
promoting behavior related to good health - health in mind presupposes
biological and physiological health, psychological and emotional health as well
as wellness in social or interrelationship issues. As such, these behaviors
namely cigarette or tobacco smoking, alcohol intoxication, substance use and
premarital sexual activity have effects on the biological, psychological and
sociocultural level of development of the young person concerned that manifest impairment
of the adolescents’ normal functioning or a clinically significant distress.
For instance, regarding the effects based on the biological criterion - alcohol
dampens the nervous system, by increasing the activity of the brain’s
inhibitory neurotransmitter and decreasing the activity of a major brain
excitatory neurotransmitter (Anton, 2001 as cited in Passer & Smith,
2007). Neurotransmitters are chemical
substances released by one neuron through tiny gaps in the brain called
synapses and affecting other neurons. These neurotransmitters functions
specifically in varied behavioral patterns, which is they generate either
excitatory current for increasing charge or inhibitory current for deceasing
charge (Dizon, Fulgencio, Gregorio, Obias, Vendivel & Gines, 2003, 2008)
and affect the different areas of the nervous system.
About the effects based on the psychological and socio-cultural criteria
- alcohol intake causes neural slowdown and while it dampens the nervous
system, at the same time it depresses the inhibitory control centers of the
brain. At higher doses, the brain’s control centers become increasingly
disrupted, thinking and physical coordination become disorganized, and fatigue
may occur as blood alcohol level (BAL) rises. The BAL is a measure of alcohol
concentration in the body. Elevated BALs impair reaction time, coordination,
and decision making (Passer & Smith, 2007). Alcohol also produces alcohol
myopia – shortsighted thinking caused by inability to pay attention to as much
information as when sober (Steele & Josephs, 1990, as cited in Passer &
Smith, 2007) making an increase in risky behaviors. About 40 percent of
American and Canadian traffic accident deaths involve alcohol (National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, 2002 as cited in Passer & Smith, 2007). As
for socio-cultural criterion, alcohol intoxication is seen as one of the common
causes of family and neighborhood fights and some even ends in death. Thus,
alcohol intoxication may cause disturbance or disruptions in the peace and
order of the community or the society.
In the case of cigarette or tobacco on its effects regarding biological
and psychological criteria– it contains nicotine, a substance that increases
the activity of excitatory neurotransmitters and stimulates important mediator
for energy and pleasure, thus accounting for its powerful addictive properties
(Passer & Smith, 2007). It may lead to addiction or dependence of the adolescents. In
addition, smoking may cause health problems like what is reported in an article
Medical News Today (2004) “A new report from the U.S. surgeon general
found that smoking causes diseases in almost every organ of the human body. Released
in late May, The Health Consequences of Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon
General cites more than 1,600 scientific articles on the health effects of
smoking. In addition to the well-known effects of smoking, such as lung, mouth
and esophageal cancers, the new report found that smoking is conclusively linked to leukemia, cataracts and pneumonia as well as cancers of the pancreas, cervix and kidneys. Other
complications linked to smoking in the report included diabetes complications, hip fractures and reproductive complications.”
Because of these reported ill effects of smoking, socio-cultural effects may
thus follow. Hospitals, hotels and other public buildings and institutions are
influenced or are legally directed by city ordinances to set aside a special
room or place where smokers can smoke so that they can’t disturb non-smokers as
it has been suggested by research that passive smoking, the smoke from the
others’ cigarette or tobacco has been tagged as likewise having health problems
or concerns effects. Thus, the smokers’ alienation could be viewed by them as
discrimination. And it could precipitate strain in the relationship between
smokers and non-smokers. Likewise, smoking is banned in public utilities of
conveyance like PUJs and PUBs as have been directed City Ordinances i.e., Cebu,
Davao, Mandaluyong and Makati City (Jimenez-David, 2009).
In the case of dangerous drugs regarding its effects based on
biological, psychological and socio-cultural criteria, which are interwoven.
Such as depressants - they increase the activity of inhibitory
neurotransmitters. They are highly addictive and at high doses, trigger initial
excitation followed by slurred speech, loss of coordination, depression, and
memory impairment. Overdoses, particularly when taken with alcohol, may cause
unconsciousness, coma, and even death. So do with substances such as stimulants
– they increase neural firing and arouse the nervous system. They increase
blood pressure, respiration, heart rate, and overall alertness. And while they
can elevate mood to the point of euphoria, they also can heighten irritability
(Passer & Smith, 2007). In large doses, some stimulants, like cocaine, can
produce vomiting, convulsions, and paranoid delusions (Boutros, Gelernter,
Gooding, Cubells, Young, Krystal, & Kosten, 2002). Heroin is also a
stimulant that with high doses may lead to coma and overdose can cause death
(Julien, 2005). Ecstasy is also a stimulant that with continued use has been
associated with impaired memory, sleep difficulties, and diminished capacity to
experience sexual pleasure (Parrot, 2001). Hallucinogens are powerful
mind-altering stimulants that produce hallucinations (Passer & Smith,
2007). LSD or lysergic acid diethylamide and phencyclidine are synthetic
hallucinogens that cause a flooding of excitation in the nervous system. They
distort sensory experience and can blur the boundaries between reality and
fantasy (Passer & Smith, 2007). Marijuana is a hemp drug that is widely
used as illegal drug (Passer & Smith, 2007). At high doses with marijuana,
users may experience negative changes in mood, sensory distortions, and
feelings of panic and anxiety. While users are high, marijuana can impair their
reaction time, thinking and memory, learning, and driving skills (Lane, Cherek,
Lieving & Tcheremissine, 2005 as cited in Passer & Smith, 2007). With
such impairment and changes in behavior and consciousness owing to the use of
these different substances or dangerous drugs, social functioning may be
likewise impaired. The individual concerned could be depressed, avoids friends,
and neglects family, unable to go to school and other normative social
functions. Some when they become addictive indulge in stealing or engage in
other problem behaviors such as antisocial behavior and conduct and have become
a problem to society.
In the case of premarital sexual activity (PMS) it may cause impairment
in normal functioning as it is an important health issue because according to
Rashad & Kaestnerb (2003), premarital sexual activity is implicated as a
proximate cause for two harmful outcomes that are prevalent among adolescents:
1) sexually transmitted disease thus, impairment in normal functioning follows;
and 2) unwanted pregnancy. On both
psychological and socio-cultural criteria –PMS is an important
psychological and socio cultural issue because as researchers suggest engaging
in sex and drug behaviors places adolescents (especially girls) at risk for
future depression (Hallfors, Waller, Bauer, Ford & Halper, 2005). PMS therefore is very significant in the
dynamics of depression. As such its overall negative effect may bring
impairment in functioning and trigger other socio-psychological problems such
as juvenile delinquency, truancy and misconduct, depression, and emotional
imbalance resulting to suicidal thoughts.
Moreover, premarital sexual activity may impair normal psychological and
social functioning because of the psychological harm it may cause the
adolescents concerned and to the society at large. For example, inputs from
research suggests that when compared to teens who are not sexually active,
teenage boys and girls who are sexually active are significantly less likely to
be happy and more likely to feel depressed and when compared to teens who are
not sexually active, teenage boys and girls who are sexually active are
significantly more likely to attempt suicide (Rector, Johnson & Noyes,
2003). Early sexual activity thus, is a substantial factor in undermining the
emotional well-being of adolescents (Rector, Johnson, & Noyes, 2003). Likewise, premarital sex may undermine the self esteem of the adolescent concerned since it
may substitute to fill the adolescents’ deeper psychological need to be
accepted and understood. In other instances, if the adolescent concerned is
known to have indulge in the premarital sex which is according to Catholic
tradition - premarital sex is gravely contrary to the dignity of persons and of
human sexuality, and sexual pleasure is morally disordered when sought for
itself, isolated from its procreative and unitive purposes (Catechism of the
Catholic Church, 2353, 2351); he or she may become an object of ridicule in
normative social situations in and outside school or may even have guilt, fear and
shame. Thus, this has caused great concern for their family as well as for the
society at large.
Moreover, study shows that premarital sex is positively associated with
marital disruption and divorce (Kahn & London, 1991). Marital disruption ,
discord and divorce may most likely results when adolescents engage in
premarital sex maybe because adolescents are psychologically and financially
less capable of bearing and bringing up a child - them being too young, without
jobs and without proper skills and knowhow in raising a child. And, unwanted
pregnancies may likely occur. Unwanted
pregnancy brings with itself many psychological and social health problems,
like guilt, fear and shame. Another issue is that when premarital sex leads
to unwanted pregnancy, the adolescent concerned may resort to abortion. Abortion
does not only brings psychological harm to the adolescents like depression in
girls and suicidal attempts in both sexes (Rector, Johnson & Noyes, 2003),
but also for this researcher abortion run counters to the evolutionary
psychology’s principle of evolutionary adaptations which according to Passer
& Smith (2007) are physical or behavioral changes that allow organisms to
meet recurring environmental challenges to their survival, thereby increasing
their reproductive ability. Having ran
counter to the principle of adaptations; abortion then thwarts nature and as
such could have negative psychological effects to the adolescents concerned
like depression and clinically significant distress or emotional imbalance.
Abortion then could be seen as a negative outcome of PMS. In the Philippines,
according to Raymundo (2007) as cited in Platino (2007), one third of the
45,000 abortions in the country are attributed to women of age group 15-24 years
old. Many of the health problems of the adolescents are life style related; 20
percent of the premarital sexual activity occurs among high school students,
and one third of the sexually active youth have experienced sexually
transmitted diseases. Still another issue regarding premarital sexual activity
is that it is highly positively correlated with smoking, drinking alcohol and
dangerous drug use (Raymundo, 2007 as cited in Platino, 2007). And as discussed
previously drinking alcohol and drug
use as discussed earlier, affect consciousness and behavior (Passer &
Smith, 2007).
