The Two Most Meaningful Issues to Be Addressed in Adolescence

The two most meaningful issues to be addressed in adolescence are intertwined. An adolescent's relationship with God and his or her ability to apply biblical principles to daily life are crucial. As in every stage of the lifespan, eternal destination is of utmost importance. 1 Peter 1:3 says that God has given all that is needed for life and godliness. This means that as complex and confusing as an adolescent's life can be, the answers to the questions that arise are all found in the pages of Scripture and through a relationship with God.

Consider some of the issues listed in this week's assignment. God's Word has much to say about peer group affiliation (Proverbs 17:9, 17, 22, 24-26; 22:21; 23:20; 24:1; 25:6), autonomy (Genesis 2:24; Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:1- 3; Colossians 1:3), substance abuse (Proverbs 23:20, 29-35; Isaiah 5:11-12, 22; Romans 13:13, 14; Galatians 5: 19-25; Ephesians 5:18), suicidal ideations (Genesis 1:27; Job 3, 6:8-11; Romans 8:35-39), and sexuality (Leviticus 18; Deuteronomy 22:3; Song of Solomon; Romans 1:26,27). The overall scope of Scripture can help an adolescent develop a true sense of self, the value God places on each person, and the responsibilities human beings have toward one another. A relationship with God can give purpose and meaning to life, especially during this time of "major changes in the ways in which individuals must deal with the world" (Feldman, 2008, pg. 408).

Several studies concur that adolescents who hold "religious" values are less likely to participate in delinquent behavior (Petts, 2009; Milot and Ludden, 2009), and be involved in substance abuse (Milot and Ludden, 2009; Berg, C. Choi, W. S., Kaur, H., Ahluwalia, J. S., 2009). These same adolescents are more likely to demonstrate high scholastic motivation and achievement (Milot and Ludden, 2009) and higher degrees of hope, joviality, psychological acceptance and mindfulness (Heaven, P. C. L., Ciarrochi, J., 2007).

References

Berg, C., Choi, W. S., Kaur, H., Nollen, N., Ahluwalia, J. S. (2009). The roles of parenting, church attendance, and depression in adolescent smoking. Journal of Community Health, 34(1), 56-64.

Feldman, R. S. (2008). Development across the life span. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson

Prentice Hall.

Heaven, P. C. L., Ciarriochi, J. (2007). Personality and religious values among adolescents: A three-wave longitudinal analysis. British Journal of Psychology, 98(4), 681.

Milot, A. S., Ludden, A. B. (2009). The effects of religion and gender on well-being, substance abuse, and academic engagement among rural adolescents. Youth and Society, 40(3), 403.

Petts, R. J. (2009). Family and religious characteristics' influence on delinquency trajectories from adolescence to young adulthood. American Sociological Review, 74(3), 463-484.