EDUC 4304

This week, you will begin a research assignment that you will complete and submit in Week 4.

As is apparent from your studies these past two weeks, trends and issues affecting adolescents are often fundamentally intertwined. A teen’s family or peer relationships, for example, may play a role in his or her struggles with an eating disorder, just as an adolescent’s substance abuse or depression would have serious implications for his or her relationships. The trends and issues you study in this course all have complex causes and complex ramifications relating to many different facets of life. In this assignment, you will begin to explore these links and their implications for professionals who work with adolescents.

To begin this assignment, choose one specific trend or issue relating to adolescent health. It can be one that you studied in this course (i.e. eating disorders, obesity, depression, self-injury, substance abuse, suicide), or it can be another adolescent health trend or issue of interest to you. Using the Walden Library, Internet, and/or print resources, locate a recent article or research study that draws a connection between your chosen health trend/issue and the family or peer relationships of adolescents. (Note: You may want to look ahead to next week’s Learning Resources for additional ideas regarding peer/romantic relationships and adolescent sexuality.)

After you have chosen the article, write a 3- to 4-page summary and analysis of the article that includes responses to the following questions:

• What specific connection(s) does the article draw between your chosen health trend/issue and a trend/issue related to adolescents’ family or peer relationships? Provide a brief summary.
• Do these findings surprise you or confirm what you already suspected? Explain.
• What are the implications of these findings for practice in schools, homes, youth programs, etc.? Identify and describe at least two specific implications, including at least one for professionals who work with adolescents in a setting of your choice.
• Do you think further research is needed? If so, why, and what kind? If not, why not?

By Day 7

This assignment is due Sunday of Week 4.