Teens now have a different set of problems than they did when their parents were children. However, one thing that remains the same is a teenager’s need for friendship and acceptance in school and other social arenas.
What social worries do teens face?
Teens face a number of social worries. In middle school and high school, fitting in is important – being an outcast or feeling unaccepted by peers can lead teens to grow to hate school and can even lead to more serious problems, like depression or aggression.
The following are some of the social worries teens face in middle and high school:
•Not having any friends. This is every teen’s worst fear. Teens who move to a new school find this to be a particular challenge, as do teens who start high school and find out that the majority of their friends have different classes and lunch periods. Teens need friends to associate with, have fun with, and get advice from. A teen’s social network is very important to him or her.
•Not having anyone to eat lunch with. This may sound silly, but lunch can be a dreaded time in high school when it seems like everyone has a friend or someone to eat lunch with but you. No teen wants to be alone during lunch period.
•Being made fun of. High school can be a brutal time. Most people get picked on a little bit at some point, but for some kids, being picked on can cause permanent psychological scars.
•Fitting in. Teens often worry that they will not “fit inâ€? at their school and with various groups. Teens must have a social network they feel comfortable in.
•Fights with friends. Even among friends, there are often squabbles and fighting that can turn two friends against each other and cause the others in the group to take sides and turn against each other. Being an outcast in their own social group is as much a worry to teens as being an outcast in the whole school is.
•Not having a boyfriend/girlfriend. Many teens date in high school, and many wish they were dating. Another social worry for teens is that no one will ask them out, ask them to dances, and so forth.
•Being labeled. High school is full of labels – nerds, jocks, popular kids, and so forth. Teens worry about the social group they will fall under and the label they may have. In addition, they may worry about being liked by other groups.
•Violence. High schools have become more and more violent, and recent polls and studies show that a growing number of teenagers fear for their own safety from other kids in schools.
These are just a few of the worries teens face in school. They may seem trivial, but to a teen, social worries can result in a lot of damage. If you find that your child is struggling socially in school, or that he or she is being picked on, make sure you are approachable and that your teen feels comfortable talking to you about this. You might want to encourage him or her to get involved in school activities as well. And if your teen is being threatened by other students, make sure you go to the school authorities.
Teens face a number of social worries in school. The above are just a few.
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