Adolescence In India

Adolescence in India: An Interdisciplinary Perspective highlights the need and importance of studying adolescence in the domain of education. Using an interdisciplinary approach, it discusses adolescence from the perspective of sociology, psychology, education and health studies. Against the backdrop of economic development and globalization, the book looks at adolescence in the changing social milieu. It offers an understanding of adolescence by exploring the socio-cultural influences on adolescents and their interactions in various spaces like the school, among peers, family and the media. The book reflects on classroom group processes and instructional practices for better psychosocial growth of adolescents as well as discusses the need for a greater emphasis on making resources available for adolescents to realise and strengthen their skills and agency. The book outlines various life-skills policies and programmes in India and uses vignettes, anecdotes, emerging classroom discussions, case studies, activities, and self-assessment tools and questionnaires to facilitate a deeper understanding of the concept. The book will be of interest to students, teachers, and educators in teaching programmes including educational psychology, adolescent psychology, and human development. It will also be useful for policymakers, NGOs, and public and private sector bodies who work in the field of adolescent psychology.

Set against the backdrop of social change and globalization, this book presents the contents and contours of adolescence in contemporary urban India. Based on the trends derived from a series of mixed-method studies with adolescent girls and boys, and parents from urban upper middle class families, it explores adolescents’ and parents’ interpretations of the stage of adolescence, illustrates views on parenting, and discusses approaches to interpersonal disagreements to derive a framework of the parent-adolescent relationship. Drawing from the cultural-contextual perspective of human development, the book in its essence offers a culturally and contextually sensitive model of adolescence that is shaped along the central tenets of family interdependence, harmony, and sensitivity to parental concerns. Highlighted as well are aspects that have remained mostly unexplored, for example, adolescents’ capacity for empathy and perspective taking, and emerging issues of autonomy in a primarily relational culture. At a broader level, the book reflects upon the interplay of cultural continuity and change, and contributes to an understanding of globalizing influences on human development. Overall, the depiction of adolescent development captured in the book has significant implications for enhancing family relationships and fostering self-growth---elements that are crucial for positive youth development.The book will be of immense use to scholars in human development, psychology, and allied fields as well as to practitioners who work with adolescents.

This book provides a comprehensive, in-depth and practical approach towards an understanding of the multitude challenges of adolescence in India. Going beyond the traditional ‘storm, stress and strain’ view of adolescents, it focuses on the strengths of adolescents and highlights a community approach towards an understanding of adolescents. The book is divided into three sections. Section 1 introduces the concept of adolescence in the Indian context, discusses the identity development and peer relations in adolescents. Section 2 deliberates on issues and challenges such as depression, suicide, violence, substance use and behavioural addiction, keeping in mind the Indian socio-cultural context. It also highlights concerns of adolescents related to disabilities. Section 3 provides various prevention and intervention measures including both individual-based and group-based interventions to deal with these challenges, thereby facilitating the journey of adolescents. It helps the reader to focus on the positive development of the adolescents. The book is useful for students in psychology, education, counselling, mental health and development. It is also a great resource book for professionals working in the field of health in general and mental health in particular.

Publisher description

"Annotating the literature of the past three decades, both theoretical and empirical, on the Indian adolescents, the present book examines the trends shaping adolescence in the areas of physical and mental well-being, family and peer relations, experience of schooling and their personality development. Issues concerning adolescents' political participation, community involvement, social deprivation, crime, employment and services available are also addressed. The authors project a mixed future for adolescents in India. Rapid technological advancements, increasing materialism with its impact on adolescents' value system and lifestyles are likely to result not only in intergenerational conflicts but will also provide opportunities for global connectivity, new role models with increasing peer influences which may become critical in deciding adolescents' developmental trajectory. The book is geared for scholars and students of social/developmental psychology, education, sociology, human development, psychiatry, as well as policy makers and practitioners."

More children born today will survive to adulthood than at any time in history. It is now time to emphasize health and development in middle childhood and adolescence--developmental phases that are critical to health in adulthood and the next generation. Child and Adolescent Health and Development explores the benefits that accrue from sustained and targeted interventions across the first two decades of life. The volume outlines the investment case for effective, costed, and scalable interventions for low-resource settings, emphasizing the cross-sectoral role of education. This evidence base can guide policy makers in prioritizing actions to promote survival, health, cognition, and physical growth throughout childhood and adolescence.

Examines teen life in India, including challenges, pastimes, and customs.