Question

A nurse observes that a family is struggling to discipline their teenage children. What evidence-informed insights may the nurse have?

Select all that apply:

a. Fathers are less aggressive in their discipline of male children in comparison to girls.

b. The use of physical forms of discipline can cause dissension between parents.

c. Mothers hold the main responsibility for disciplining children across studies.

d. Family cohesion reduces the need for punitive methods of discipline in families.

Answer 1

                    Teenage years can be difficult for many families. Young people may develop ideas, values and beliefs that are different to those of their parents. This is part of the normal process of moving towards independence. Parents may struggle in their discipline with how much independence they should allow their children at different ages and in different circumstances.

                  Each young person is an individual and needs different advice. Communication with teenagers is different from communicating with younger children and can cause conflict and stress. This is one of the most common teenage problems with parents which may lead to ongoing parent teenager conflict.

                    As a Nurse, the role of the nurse is to identify the factors that may interfere with the parent –child relationship. Nurses are in a position to support families under these circumstances.

The following are the main reasons for the cause of parents struggling in discipline in their teenage children:

· The use of physical forms of discipline

                  Exposure to harsh physical discipline has been linked to negative outcomes for children, ranging from conduct disorder to depression and low self-esteem. Both parents’ use of harsh discipline was related to greater adolescent depression and externalizing behavior, even when these effects were examined over and above the effects of other parenting measures known to account for these symptoms.

                   Harsh physical discipline is likely to undermine adolescent efforts to express autonomy and relatedness. Experiences of harsh discipline may lessen an adolescent’s sense of felt security in the family, and thus signal to the adolescent that relationships with parents are too fragile to survive an increase in autonomy. High levels of harsh parental discipline predict both emotional and behavioral outcomes during adolescence.

                    It is possible that adolescents who are exposed to harsh discipline have outcomes such as depression that may primarily reflect other problematic aspects of their relationships with parents.

• Asserting Independence

Teens are striving to find independence anyway they can. From fashion to activities, teens want to control their lives. Since teens are trying to learn how to be an adult and navigate the world without parental supervision, this is a common problem to arise.

• Arguing

                  Going along with asserting their independence, teens are ready to prove their point. Whether they are told they can't go out today or they need to do their homework, adolescents are ready to argue. Not only do they want to discuss a perceived injustice, but many times they feel parents don't trust them

• Lack of Communication

                 Many times, it feels like parents and teens are on two different planets or speaking two different languages. Phrases like "you don't understand," or "it's like you don't even listen to me," are phrases parents hear over and over. Teens don't feel that parents listen to them or understand their feelings. To wander through the murky water of communication, it's important to listen to teens.