LENKA CHUDOMELOVÁDEPARTMENT OF CHILD AND YOUTH HEALTH

THIRD FACULTY OF MEDICINE

Prevention of social pathology in children and youth

WHO Health 21 – Target 4Health of Young People

4.1 children and adolescents should have better life skills and the capacity to make healthy choices

4.2 mortality and disability from violence and accidents involving young people should be reduced by at least 50%

4.3 the proportion of young people engaging in harmful forms of behaviour such as drug, tobacco and alcohol consumption should be substantially reduced

4.4 the incidence of teenage pregnancies should be reduced by at least one third

Social pathology

a social phenomenon that tends to increase social disorganization and unity of a particular society and inhibit personal adjustment

What does it mean?

interfering with moral, social, civil, political and economic issues and norms

unhealthy, abnormal and generally undesirable social behavioral patterns

Such as …

violence, aggressionabuse of women/childrensubstance abusecrimeterrorismcorruptionstigmatization (age, sex, social/health status

etc.)racism, xenophobia

Multifactorial etiology

factor / predisposition ecological cultural social individual familial

Ecological predisposition

reducing child resistance due to worsening condition of environment (air, water, food, noise)

Cultural predisposition

variable tolerance limit depending on the particular community (India)

value of human life (human rights)prejudices, superstitions, mythspolitical systeminfluence of media

Social factors

isolation, escape to virtual reality, social networks

rapid social changes requiring constant adaptation

change of the structure and function of the family

lack of positive role models in everyday situations

Individual predisposition

genetic background personality type mental and health status physical appearance

Family factors

family structure (dysfunctional family)authoritative upbringing system failure to set limitsincapability of meeting basic needs

(physical, emotional)longterm illness, death in the familyabuse/neglect (emotional, physical,

sexual)witnessing interparenting violence

Pathologic social behavior in children and youth

repeated lies, theftsviolence, aggression dating violencebullying truancy, children on the run street children, prostitution substance abuse, gamblingcrime and delinquence

Warning signs

extreme resistanceprovocative behaviorcalling for attentionproblems with peersattention disordersimpulsivenessinterference with privacy of otherslazinessfooling, clowning

Lies, thefts

high tolerance in society (school, family)negative emotion as a triggeroften modified by other causes (to be

popular, bet, bullying)

Violence, aggression

significant increase in frequencyincreasing brutalitydropping age of delinquentsradicalization of groups, gangs and

movements of teenagers and adolescentssports violenceviolence for fun

Personality indicators of aggression

excessive emotional reaction to frustrating suggestions

hostile ruminationtolerance to violenceguilt, fear of punishment

G.V. Caprara Model, 1986

Motivation

self affirmationrevengeindignationcontemptintentionsecuring benefits of selfdisadvantage others

Bullying

definition activity of repeated, aggressive behavior intended to

hurt another person, physically or mentallybasic types

emotional/verbal/physical direct/indirect

forms isolation, name calling, spreading gossip, threatening,

poking, throwing things, slapping, choking, punching and kicking, beating …

participants bully / bully accomplices / victim / bystanders

Profile of the bully

body strengthegoisticunscrupulouscrueltendency to manipulatepoor self-confidenceexperience with corporal punishments/abuse

Profile of the victim

sensitiveavoiding conflictsdependencelack of social competence, assertivenessphysical appearance (short, obese …)handicap (physical, mental)fear of failure

Stages of bullying

Kolář, 1997 :1. ostracism2. hardening of manipulation3. nucleic base stage4. silent majority5. perfect bullying

Prevention of bullying

education of all groups (children, parents, teachers, health professionals)

seeking (and receiving) effective help from othersstrategy training

assertiveness avoiding potential threatening situation

early intervention „bully courts“ psychotherapy

Connected Kids: Safe, Strong, Secure (AAP, 2005)

Substance abuse, gambling

level of tolerance in societyavailability (alcohol, slot machines)failure of control mechanismabsence of clearly defined limitsmatter of image / lifestyle influence of media

Crime and delinquency

vandalismindivudual crimeorganized crimeaudience violenceurban disorder

Crime x delinquency

crime commission of an act that is forbidden or the omission

of a duty that is commanded by a public law and that makes the offender liable to punishment by that law

delinquency minor crime, especially that committed by young

people conduct that is out of accord with accepted behavior

or the law

Prevention of socially pathological behavior

meeting basic needs of childrenrespecting the rights of childrenmultidisciplinary approacheeducational activitiessupport for families, training in parenting

skillsaccess to help, e.g. helplines, low-threshold

facilities

References

www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/violence/global_campaign/en/chap2.pdf

http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/87/5/07-043125/en/ www.who.int/topics/violence/en http://www.angermgmt.com/homestudy.htm World report on violance and health. Chapter 2. Youth

violence (http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/violence/world_report/chapters/en/index.html)

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/124/1/393.full.html