Recognizing the importance of social relationships to adolescent behaviour, social network analysis is an analytic technique that is being used with increasing frequency to characterize youth personal networks, interpersonal communication, and group norms. A better understanding of these networks and environments can allow researchers and program planners to utilize the natural flow of communication within groups to more effectively plan and implement health promotion and social change interventions (Bond, 2003). Peer education programs are a common approach to try to affect social and behavioural change in adolescents (Campbell, 2005; Cartagena et al, 2005; Caron, Godin, Otis, and Lambert, 2004; Agha & Van Rossem, 2004; Kinsler, Sneed, Moriksy & Ang, 2004; Visser, 2007; Merakou & Kourea-Kremastinou, 2006). Peer education programs, which use individuals specifically selected from the target population to act as educators, role models, and leaders, are generally the preferred approach for health promotion interventions when working with adolescent populations. This is due to a few key factors, namely that the approach can be developed and implemented in a manner that is culturally appropriate, community-based, and widely accepted by target audiences (Ross & Williams, 2002; Campbell, 2005). An additional advantage is the perceived credibility of the peer educators in the eyes of the target group. These individuals are integrated within the target group and can identify with the community of interest. The use of social network analysis (SNA) to identify natural opinion leaders, perceived norms and behaviours, and characteristics of peer influences before the development of an intervention program is being reported more and m... ... middle of paper ... ...b-Saharan Africa is the focal point for the worldwide epidemic of HIV/AIDS. Uganda is one country in East Africa that has demonstrated some success in addressing the epidemic and reducing the burden of HIV/AIDS on some demographics of the population. However, one of the more promising interventions that addresses the needs of adolescents, peer education, has not been widely used in Uganda (Mayega, personal communication, May 2008), though recent national policy officially supports this type of endeavour (Uganda Ministry of Education and Sports, 2006). The primary purpose of this study is to conduct a social network analysis of youth in senior secondary schools in the Kabarole District of western Uganda. The goal is to inform future efforts to implement peer education programs in the rural African setting targeting sexual health promotion and HIV prevention.
The results also found that BF participants were over two times more likely to refrain from smoking, compared to similar students in the District of Columbia who did not participate in the program.The evaluation also found a significant decrease in the incidence of the four high-risk behaviors among Best Friends girls compared to their peers who did not participate in the program. Specifically, Best Friends girls had an “80 percent reduction in the likelihood that they would have sex”. A 52 percent reduction in the likelihood that they would smoke. A 90 percent reduction in the strong possibility that they would use drugs, and a 60 percent reduction in the likelihood that they would drink alcohol. Like most abstinence education programs, there were “positive findings in the Best Friends study, and confirmation that the program reduces early onset
Peer groups are different in characteristic and require a customized approach. Nonetheless, at the heart of youths is an intense energy that yearns to connect and explore the surrounding (Goold 435). This makes it easier for the youth to engage in improper habits that have dire repercussions.
The authors worked for the Center for AIDS Prevention Studies which belongs to AIDS resea...
If the mentee was not getting the right answer in homework but other people in his class were, tell him that the other person may be good at this and so he might have to work harder. Teach the mentee to never give up and to think about what he is better at in another aspect of school. The mentor should remind the mentee about good grades and inform him he should care in school, then the teacher will care just as much to lend him some help. State to the mentee that the mentor will help him if he ever needs tutoring in a subject or any other aspect for the next years to come; give them encouraging wisdom that they could never forget in fun ways, even show the mentee a story about how powerful a high school education can impact his future self.
Simons-Morton, B.. (2007). Social Influences on Adolescent Substance Use. American Journal of Health Behavior, 31(6), 672-84. Retrieved May 5, 2011, from ProQuest Psychology Journals. (Document ID: 1390074281).
Poor peer relationship can be seen as both cause and consequence of teen substance abuse. To develop in a negative and unhealthy environment can lead a person to make poor decisions, and to make poor decisions can lead a person to build a relationship with other individuals who share their same detrimental practices and who do not provide a positive peer support. To make a poor decision can lead the youth to get involve in deviant behavior due to being under the influence affect the person 's judgment and increases the chances of getting involved in delinquent
n, P. S., & Hoyson, M. (2000). The need for longitudinal, intensive social skill intervention: LEAP follow-up outcomes for children with autism. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 20(2), 116-122.
Whether good or bad, neighborhoods have lasting adverse effects on multiple areas of a child and adolescent’s development. Beyond individual and immediate family factors, the effects of neighborhoods in children are present academically, psychologically, developmentally, and socially. Neighborhoods that are disadvantaged, with high poverty or other negative factors, have higher rates of school dropout, delinquent and conduct behaviors, and social relationship difficulties among adolescents than well-off neighborhoods. If I had a $10 million grant to design and implement an intervention program for disadvantaged neighborhoods, I would like to reduce the delinquent and antisocial behaviors in children and adolescents by creating a mentorship
Lee, G., Akers, R., & Borg, M. (2004). Social learning and structural factors in adolescent substance use. Western Criminology Review, 5(1), 17-33.
Scholars agree that social support is one large component from the social network that influences both physical and mental health, but they argued that “it is not the only critical pathway” (Berkman and Glass). Beyond social support, they look into the behavior level of a social network that includes four smaller pathway: “provision of social support, social influences, social engagement and attachment, and access to resources and material good” (Berkman and Glass). Social support becomes a smaller part of their argument on how social networks affect health. There are other factors that contribute to behaviors that influences health results and social support become one of the factors. Through the epidemiological studies, they focus on “health-damaging behaviors such as tobacco consumption,” “health-promoting behavior such as appropriate health service,” “medical adherence, and exercise,” and “exposure to infectious disease agents” (Berkman and Glass). These focuses are on how the behaviors are reproduced in order to help determine better ways to address health issues that are a result of the consequences of social interactions between people. Behaviors are often taught and reinforced and then reproduced when it becomes a norm for the
"How Does Social Networking Affect to Lifestyle of Teenagers?" HubPages. Simply Aide, 21 Mar. 2014. Web. 15 May 2014.
Fennessy, Donna. "The Secret Life Of Teens." Prevention 60.4 (2008): 181-183. Canadian Reference Centre. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.
Educationalists concerned with young people have begun to pay much more attention to the concept of 'peer education'--for example, in relation to smoking, drug or HIV education programmes (eg Smokebusters or Fast Forward). How much attention do these programmes pay to the real dynamics of peer group pressures as they ebb and flow across adolescence?
Consistently, teenagers are under the influence of both parents and peers. It is a standout amongst the most widely recognized issues among adolescents which needs to arrive at an end as it has various
There are a myriad of cultural and societal risk factors that contribute adolescent alcohol and drug use. A risk factor is defined as “any attribute, characteristic or exposure of an individual that increases the likelihood of developing a disease or injury”. These risk factors can be identified through family history of substance use disorder, sense of inferiority, pleasure seeking, low self-esteem, unemployment, poor social support, desire to experiment and poor social support (Thomas, N. L., Naregal, P. M., Mohite, V. R., Tata, S. H., Karale, R. B., & Kakade, S. V. (2015).) Risk of drug abuse increases greatly during times of transition, such as changing schools, moving, or divorce. Additional peer risk factors include gang involvement or the reinforcement of negative norms and expectations within peer group, the lack of academic...