Relationships and interactions in healthy process to be an adolescent

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore how teenagers view the relationships and interactions in the process of healthily becoming an adolescent. This qualitative exploratory research was conducted with ten teenagers in a state college in a town in southern Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, from August to October, 2007. We used semi-structured interviews to collect the data. Later, we decided to use a thematic analysis, in which two themes emerged: (1) the process of building relationships and interactions in adolescence and (2) the risk in social life. As a result, we realized the importance of interpersonal relationships formed in adolescence, which deserve the nurse's attention. Nurses can help in the guiding of this population in basic health units, hospitals or schools, to a healthy adolescence. Thus, teenagers may enjoy the relationships built in this process in order to grow and to enter into adulthood.

Influence of parental smoking on the use of alcohol and illicit drugs among adolescents

“…Adolescence is a period of development characterized by several biological, psychological and social changes, which may predispose youth to some risk behaviors, such as the use of illicit drugs. ( 1 , 2 ) One of the factors related to smoking in adolescence is parental tobacco use. ( 3 , 4 ) Another concern is that smoking adolescents are more prone to use illicit drugs, alcohol, ( 5 , 6 ) or both.…”

HIV/AIDS in childhood and adolescence.

“…46 The preventive tendency of socio-cultural nature involved in these productions places the issue of adolescents with HIV/AIDS in the theoreticalanalytical category of social vulnerability. 47 This populational segment's needs encompass the requirements of the phase of transition in human development; 48 a broadening of the environment of interpersonal relationships from the family circle to peer groups; 49 the access to health services; 50 access to information on sexuality, and means of preventing HIV/AIDS, among others. 51…”

Ritual de iniciação aos comportamentos de risco na adolescência

“…Essas experiências relatadas representam fatores nocivos à saúde e, em sua essência, o adolescente se torna um ser vulnerável a inúmeras situações de risco provenientes de um sentimento de imunidade que o habita 3,4 . É nesse período da vida que há uma maior exposição a alguns comportamentos de risco à saúde, dentre os quais, destacam-se o consumo de bebidas alcoólicas, drogas ilícitas, cigarros e atividade sexual precoce.…”