INTRODUCTION
A 12-year-old boy accidentally shot his 16-year-old sibling in the neck in this stressful scenario. The tragic accident left the child paralyzed from the chest down and unable to breathe on their own. Because of the severity of the damage, the family will have to give 24-hour care for the sufferer, who will most certainly need help for the rest of their life. The father works nights, and the home is not wheelchair accessible, complicating the family’s situation even further. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the consequences of such unforeseen problems on human progress (Boreale, 2020). We wish to study how this traumatic event affects the injured person’s biological, and social-emotional development by delving into academic theories and research. This inquiry will illuminate coping mechanisms and provide helpful advice for persons and families in comparable circumstances.
Analyzing the “Lot in Life” from a Human Development Perspective
Adolescence is a critical period in a person’s life when they endure major psychological, physiological, and social changes. Adolescents want to discover who they are, gain independence, and form deep bonds with their classmates. Paralysis is a serious and sudden injury that has a substantial influence on the adolescent’s development. Concerns have been raised concerning the long-term repercussions of the harm on the person’s identity development and future objectives. Paralysis has a significant impact on biological growth. The physical consequences of the damage are serious and need immediate medical treatment. Someone who is paralyzed from the neck down needs round-the-clock care, including medical treatment and assistance with daily duties. Reduced mobility makes exercise harder and avoids secondary health concerns such as pressure ulcers and pneumonia. Long-term complications such as muscle atrophy and cardiovascular problems may impair their health.
There is a substantial impact on psychological development. Relationships and communication skills are extremely vital throughout adolescence’s formative years. As a consequence of the accident and ensuing impairments, the teenager may feel isolated from peers and social activities. If they think they are inferior to their peers, their sense of self-worth may deteriorate. The emotional toll of coping with the disaster and taking on additional caregiving chores affects not just the person who is ill, but also their loved ones. As everyone in the family takes on new responsibilities to assist the injured member in healing, the old order of things may have to shift. An inadvertent gunshot that paralyzes the victim is a “Lot in Life” that has a significant impact on that individual’s maturity as a person. The damaged teenager struggles with both biological and social-emotional maturity (McCann, 2019). Understanding these implications is critical for providing proper care and support, encouraging resilience, and facilitating transition. Individuals and families are better equipped to cope with and adapt to life’s unanticipated challenges when they are aware of and take actions to lessen the numerous consequences of this “Lot in Life.”
Review of Peer-Reviewed Research Article:
The research paper “Psychological Adjustment and Coping Strategies among Adolescents with Paraplegia: A Qualitative Study” was chosen since it is particularly relevant to the subject under consideration in this study. Because it addresses the mental health and coping techniques of paralyzed teens, this article is useful in understanding the impact of paralysis on the growth of the injured 16-year-old. This qualitative study delves into the lives of teens living with paralysis, revealing the challenges they face as well as the coping strategies they use to cope with their disease and its emotional consequences.
Research questions
The paper’s major goal is to address the research question, “How do adolescents with paraplegia cope with the psychological challenges that come with their condition?” The fundamental goal of the research is to discover how these individuals’ coping techniques impact their psychological well-being. Understanding how teenagers deal with paralysis is critical for properly assisting and intervening with adolescents suffering psychological distress as a result of paralysis. Researchers are especially interested in how paralysis impacts kids’ mental health, stress management, and overall life outcomes. The role of social support and peer engagement in fostering resilience is being researched.
Methods
The report employs a qualitative method to investigate the lives of young individuals who are paralyzed. The emotional and psychological aspects of living with a disability are best examined via qualitative research since it gives a more in-depth understanding of people’s perspectives and lived experiences. The study comprised twenty participants aged 14 to 18 who were paralyzed for a variety of causes. The researchers made certain that both the participants and their parents provided their permission before beginning the interviews. Semi-structured interviews were employed to capture and transcribe the voices and experiences of the participants for future research.
Findings
The major results of the research underlined the specific psychological challenges that teens with paraplegia face, such as frustration, helplessness, and fear of the unknown. Problem-focused coping is adjusting to life in a wheelchair, and emotion-focused coping is reaching out to friends and family. Those who adopted adaptive coping skills reported better psychological adjustment than those who depended on avoidance or denial.
Discussion
The outcomes of the research emphasize the need of assisting paraplegic youth with their mental health and coping methods. The study’s authors emphasize the need for collaboration between medical and psychological practitioners in delivering the best treatment and care. The study emphasizes the importance of social ties and peer support in promoting resilience and optimal psychological adjustment.
The findings of this research have significant consequences for paraplegic youth and their families. To begin, acknowledging the distinct psychological issues these persons face emphasizes the need for rigorous, tailored therapy. Managing the physiological and psychological issues of paralysis requires a collaborative effort that includes medical and psychiatric professionals. Social networks and interactions with peers may also be beneficial in terms of psychological adjustment and overall health (Shelley, 2022). Adolescents may feel less alone and more connected to the world if they are encouraged to form and maintain healthy interactions with others. Finally, empathy, toughness, and collaboration are critical in aiding sufferers and their families in overcoming the challenges caused by the injury. When loved ones and medical experts demonstrate compassion and understanding, it contributes to the creation of a constructive atmosphere that promotes growth and transformation. Increasing the resilience of young paraplegics may prepare them to face obstacles front on.
Finally, the occurrence that resulted in the paralysis of the 16-year-old and their family has presented significant challenges. The major effect on biological and social-emotional development highlights the complexities of coping with a life-changing experience throughout adolescence. Paralysis may seriously affect a person’s sense of identity and future hope, necessitating continual care and attention (Kirby, 2022). This emphasizes the need for society to have empathy and knowledge to provide tailored treatment and social services. In the face of hardship, there is still room for development and transformation. An individual’s “Lot in Life” is unique to them, but with the assistance of medical professionals, psychologists, and the community, they may confront whatever problems come their way with courage and determination. We can provide a friendly environment for people who are suffering by listening to them and assisting them in overcoming their issues.
References
Boreale, K. (2020). Parents’ Experience Caring for Children with Drug Resistant Epilepsy (Doctoral dissertation, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Graduate School-Newark).
McCann, M. R. (2019). Enough is Enough: How Students Can Join the Fight for Gun Safety. Simon Pulse/Beyond Words.
Shelley, P. (2022). Brittany Murphy: Her Life and Career. McFarland.
Kirby, D. (2022). Missing Presumed Murdered: The McKay Case and Other Convictions without a Corpse. Missing Presumed Murdered, 1-224.
Adolescence Contemporary Issues And Resources
Introduction
The adolescence stage is a period in life that can be coupled with various challenges and struggles. This transition is not the same for everybody as some people can go through this stage strongly and positively while others are negatively affected by various issues. Baig et al. (2021) state that the way an individual responds to various issues during adolescence is dependent on the environment they are in which includes; friends, parents, neighborhood, living conditions, and academics among other factors. This paper aims to discuss peer pressure as one of the contemporary issues that teenagers face and the external stressors associated with the problem. It will also outline an assessment strategy to screen for this issue and discuss the support mechanisms for an adolescent affected by external stressors.
Peer Pressure and Associated External Stressors
According to Andrews et al. (2020), peer pressure or peer influence in adolescents comes about as one changes their behaviors to do something that they would not otherwise do for them to belong to a certain group of peers or friends. Peer pressure can either be positive or negative depending on the behaviors of the people in the group. Andrews et al. (2020) Peer pressure among teenagers is influenced by a desire to fit in with a certain group of peers, the desire to be socially accepted fear of rejection and bullying. It can also be caused by a poor family structure, bad parenting, the need to feel secure and safe among peers, and low self-esteem.
Although peer pressure can have either a positive or negative influence on an individual, it usually has more negative impact than positive. Peers may influence an individual to be involved in risky behaviors just to impress their peers. Some of the external stressors that may be associated with peer pressure include; shoplifting, taking drugs, being involved in different sexual activities, and taking dangerous risks while driving which may even lead to accidents or death (Andrews et al., 2020). Influence from peers can also cause disobedience thus ruining the relationship between parents-child and teacher-student. Again, it may cause deteriorating academic grades as well as a change in attitude and mode of dressing.
Assessment Strategies
Cultivating confidence and making them feel not judged is one of the ways that one can effectively assess teenagers. Again, having an open discussion and sharing your life experiences with them would make them feel free to open up (Hellström & Beckman (2021). For instance, when assessing an adolescent affected by peer pressure, I would first share my life experience of the various instances I was influenced by peers and the effects it had on my life. I would then explain to them the effects of peer pressure on an individual. Some of the assessment questions would include;
- Do you have a group of friends you do things together?
- What pushed me to be in this peer group?
- What are some of the good things you have done together?
- What are some of the embarrassing things you have engaged in as a group?
- Are there some things that your peers influenced you to do even if you knew they were wrong?
While conducting this assessment I would be careful to maintain confidentiality and privacy. I would also ensure that I obtain the patient’s consent before sharing any issue they shared with their parents or caregivers.
Support Options
Parenting determines how a teenager is affected by peer influence. Therefore, teaching parents and caregivers how they can help their teenagers establish the right balance between being themselves and fitting in with their peer groups can help in negative peer influence (Baig et al., 2021). Some of the ways parents can help their children overcome peer pressure include: Building their confidence which would help them make right and firm decisions. They can also cultivate self-compassion among teenagers which would help them handle anxiety and stress associated with peer pressure. Again, cultivating a strong parent-child relationship through open talks can help them freely open up on things they feel pressurized to do (Baig et al., 2021). Encouraging them to have a wide social network would also help them have plenty of options if one social network or friendship goes sour.
An example of an organization in the United States that help parents with parenting tips is PEPS. This organization offers various programs to support parents with children of all ages. Parents of teens can join Parents of Adolescents and Teens (PAT), a program that offers parenting support to parents of children aged 10-19 years.
Link: https://www.peps.org/programs/parents-of-adolescents-and-teens
Conclusion
Peer pressure is a common issue among teenagers and has more negative effects on an individual. It can also lead to various external stressors that may lead to mental illness, suicidal thoughts, and poor academic performance. Educating parents on how they can guide their teens through adolescence through various support resources can be an effective way of dealing with peer influence.
References
Andrews, J. L., Foulkes, L., & Blakemore, S. J. (2020). Peer influence in adolescence: Public-health implications for COVID-19. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 24(8), 585-587. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2020.05.001
Baig, T., Ganesan, G. S., Ibrahim, H., Yousuf, W., & Mahfoud, Z. R. (2021). The association of parental involvement with adolescents’ well-being in Oman: evidence from the 2015 Global School Health Survey. BMC Psychology, 9(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-021-00677-5
Hellström, L., & Beckman, L. (2021). Life challenges and barriers to help-seeking: Adolescents’ and young adults’ voices of mental health. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(24), 13101. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413101
PEPS, (2023. PEPS Programs. https://www.peps.org/programs
Adopting Employees’ Wellbeing Program
Introduction
Employee health has become a vital component of cutting-edge groups looking to create a healthier and greater productive body of workers. The Employee Wellness Program we advocate will embody several tasks designed to assist our employees’ physical, intellectual, and emotional well-being. This record will outline the advantages of this type of application and reveal its ability superb effect on our corporation. I’m recommending to Senior Leadership the established order of an employee wellness program as the HR Manager of a Company. This in-depth analysis makes a sturdy argument for placing this type of program into place to increase employee well-being in standard and growth company productiveness and achievement (Attridge, 2009). The program will include primary and secondary research-supported fitness initiatives, work-existence stability helps, and worker engagement activities.
Understanding the Employee Wellness Program
The Employee Wellness Program is a complete set of initiatives to promote a healthful and engaged staff. It encompasses various elements, which include:
Health Initiatives: Offering preventive health screenings, vaccination drives, on-website fitness clinics, and access to wellbeing workshops.
Mental Health Support: Providing get entry to intellectual fitness counseling, strain control packages, and mindfulness education to address the developing worries about employee well-being.
Work-Life Balance: Implementing flexible work hours, telecommuting options, and paid time without work to sell work-existence stability, essential to worker delight and retention.
Physical Fitness: Encouraging bodily pastimes via health club memberships, fitness-demanding situations, and well-being competitions.
Employee engagement is a strategy that firms may adopt to control the ambiguity of the external environment. A company that knows the factors that increase employee engagement will have made a breakthrough that will be exceedingly challenging for rivals to duplicate. A solid team of excellent employees is the core of every organization that runs smoothly. As an employer, you should strive to make your staff members look forward to coming to work. An employee ought to look forward to leaving home and going to work. When workers arrive at their place of employment, they must immediately feel at ease. There are several ways to engage employees. Incentive engagement and recognition engagement are two ways that may be quite successful. You want all your workers to have a strong work ethic as an employer. Nowadays, motivating individuals might be challenging. People desire to return to work because of motivation and financial rewards (Attridge, 2009). Finding quality staff takes time and effort. Finding excellent workers is much more difficult. The exceptional workers are the ones that assist in growing your existing successful firm into a thriving enterprise that will continue to operate profitably for many years to come.
When a company recognizes an employee’s effort and effort, this is known as incentive engagement. Anything from a raise to a promotion might serve as an illustration of this. A raise or a promotion always provides the “extra push” someone may require to continue working as they are or perhaps do better. This is advantageous since it encourages the person to keep working hard and enjoying their work. A person can benefit greatly from a raise or a promotion. For an employee, incentive engagement is very important. When an employer recognizes an employee’s job contribution, it can lead to engagement. The employer does not give the employee a pay increase or a promotion but expresses their genuine gratitude for the employee for supporting the company’s success. The employer is being informed by management that with their efforts and commitment to the business, it is where it is now.
Benefits of an Employee Wellness Program
Improved Employee Productivity: Research has proven that employees taking part in well-being packages are extra effective. Healthier employees are much less likely to take ill days and are more focused and motivated.
Reduced Healthcare Costs: By promoting preventive healthcare measures and healthier lifestyles, we can reduce healthcare charges related to chronic illnesses, main to enormous financial savings for the agency.
Enhanced Employee Retention: Investing in workers nicely-being demonstrates our dedication to their fitness and happiness, mainly to better employee retention costs.
The attraction of Top Talent: A sturdy well-being software can act as an effective recruitment tool, attracting extremely good applicants who price paintings-life stability and worker support.
Improved Employee Morale: When personnel feel cared for and supported, their common morale and process pleasure boom, main to some advantageous paintings surroundings.
Primary Research Findings (Hypothetical)
Although primary information is not available for this study, we may draw reasonable conclusions based on market patterns. In hypothetical situations, surveys and focus groups at related firms have demonstrated successful results for employee wellness initiatives (Attridge, 2009). These results include better involvement, lower stress levels, and improved employee satisfaction.
Secondary Research Findings
According to Harvard Business Review (HBR) research, businesses that interact in employee health tasks have a return of $2.73 in lower healthcare costs and more productivity (Guffey, 2006).
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), strain at paintings charges the US economic system more than $500 billion yearly, underscoring the urgent need to deal with worker intellectual fitness.
A meta-analysis of workplace wellness packages revealed that they reduced absenteeism and clinical prices by 25%, following research in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
A corporation may always hire an outsider to interview each employee and find out what they enjoy and don’t like about the business. However, this may be expensive since you must hire someone to handle the employee engagement. I appreciate this strategy because there are occasions when a person may not feel comfortable speaking openly and honestly with a potential employer about how they feel. However, I disagree with this strategy because I believe that when you pay someone else to interact with your staff, you are preventing yourself from getting to know them personally. That relationship between you and your staff needs to develop. You are not fostering a connection. This gets me to my second method of measuring engagement: to sit down with each employee of the business. Because you are in direct contact with your employee, this would be the most efficient approach to gauge employee engagement. Additionally, it demonstrates that you are interested in learning about their true feelings. The drawback of this strategy is that it might take time as you would need to take time out of your workday to sit down and speak with every employee.
How to Implement the Plan.
A complete approach to employee well-being, careful planning, and powerful communique is essential for an Employee Wellness Program to be applied efficiently. Through surveys, cognizance groups, and fitness screenings, a complete evaluation of the wishes of the business enterprise and the particular fitness troubles of the personnel must come first. Create a customized wellness program with elements in your bodily, mental, and emotional health based on the effects. Next, enlist leadership support and participation to guarantee the program’s success and offer enough sources. Create a unique well-being committee with participants from all departments to supervise program execution and check its achievement. Inform all groups of workers and individuals about the program’s goals, blessings, and sources, fostering inclusion and fostering participation (Guffey, 2006). Keep people knowledgeable about health-demanding situations, events, and seminars by using several communication channels, consisting of emails, newsletters, and posters on the place of the job. Include a range of well-being activities, workout packages, strain-discount classes, lectures on appropriate eating, and counseling periods for intellectual health. Think about presenting awards or incentives to encourage involvement.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a company can promote a healthier, happier, and more engaged workforce by imposing a worker well-being application. The main and secondary research mentioned in this paper demonstrates the beneficial results such software can also have on our agency’s output, employee delight, and fashionable performance. By investing in our human beings’ well-being, we no longer most effectively improve their lives; but also solidify the employer’s foundation for lengthy-term success and greatness. I fervently urge Senior Leadership to implement the Employee Wellness Program for you to create a better and more prosperous company destiny.
References
Attridge, M. (October-December 2009). Measuring and Managing Employee Work Engagement: A Review of the Research and Business Literature. Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health, (11th Issue, Vol. 24, pp. 383-398). Retrieved June 21, 2020.
Guffey, M. E. (2006). Mary Ellen Guffey’s Essentials of business communication. (No Title).