Page 195 - Health, Population and Environment Education 9

e. Loyalties expand
In adolescence, adolescents become loyal for their parents, teachers, towards their studies,
society and entire nation as well.
D. Social changes

Adolescents have physical, mental and emotional changes.
Based on those changes as well as family structure, socio-
economic aspects and influence of friends, the remarkable
social changes are seen during adolescence. Some of them
are as follows:
a. Adolescents like to remain outside home in friends
circle. They are devoted towards friends and group Fig: 12
activities.

b. They have great influence of friend’s attitudes, behaviours and perceptions. They
do what the friends do. So, there is high chance that they get involved in smoking,
drinking alcohol, taking drugs, gambling, fighting etc.
c. They like to make friends whom they match in social status, economic status, class,
interests etc.
d. They like to participate in the programs, festivals, concerts, functions and ceremonies
where there is gathering of opposite sex.
e. They start to participate in various extra-curricular activities like sports, quiz contest,
poetry, debate competition, etc. They easily appreciate the qualities in which they
have interest.
f. They like to participate in several social works and like to become members of various
social originations like Scout, Lions club, Red Cross Society, etc.
g. A strong desire of independence develops in this period. Hence, there is more chance
of clashes with family members, teachers, friends, etc.

Needs and demands of adolescence
During adolescence, adolescents have physical, mental, emotional and social changes.
But, they cannot cope with those changes much. They have marked physical growth but
mentally they are not much confident to take the decision. They are grown ups but they
are not fully mature enough to deal with various roles and duties. Very often they are
overlooked by the seniors though they show some independent behaviours. They want
freedom and do various works of their interest. But parents always want to see them study
and have book in hand. Adolescents want to remain in friends circle and enjoy a lot. But
parents blame them for being irresponsible, insincere and say them that they have wasted
time. In many cases, parents enforce the adolescents to follow their interests rather than
giving them liberty of choosing or adopting their own interest, stating that adolescents
are still young to decide of their own. Due to these activities, adolescents can never enjoy
the activities and consider their studies, duties as burden. They consider that their parents
never understand them. Hence, very often there is clash between parents and adolescents.

GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9 195