How the Media Depicts the Adolescents - Essay Example

There are a variety of ways through which the media portrays health problems amongst the elderly, adolescents, and children. The media depicts adolescents as a social group that is affected by health problems associated with sex. In relation to the elderly, the health problem associated with them is related to aging. Children are depicted as having health problems related to nutrition.

            Sexually transmitted diseases among adolescents the society are among the health problems that receive more media attention (U. S. Department of Health and Human Services 2000). This is in comparison to other health problems affecting other members of society such as the elderly and children. There are a variety of reasons why this health problem receives more media attention. One of the reasons is that the adolescent population is greater than that of other members of society. Therefore, this social group is more vulnerable hence the media attention directed toward it.

            The emphasis on sexually transmitted diseases amongst adolescents is justified because this social group is very important for the welfare of any nation. The adolescents who are mostly teenagers are the hope for the future. Therefore, if their welfare is not protected at present then the status of the future is in jeopardy.

            The attention given to adolescents’ health issues by the media in relation to other social groups should be encouraged. This is because most teenagers in the adolescent stage are naïve and therefore need a lot of guidance and counseling. Teenagers at the adolescent stage undergo a series of physical and physiological changes and hence why they need guidance on how to handle the changes (Goldwasser, 2008). Sex is one of the issues that affect their lifestyles and it is therefore the obligation of the media to concentrate on sexually transmitted diseases amongst them so as to enlighten them.

            Research has revealed that the public portrays the attention of the media to sexually transmitted diseases among adolescents in a positive way (Carlson, 2008). Most members of the public are of the view that the topic is crucial hence why it should be openly discussed. This is because it acts as a guideline towards ensuring that this social group is safe for the welfare of society.

            There are a variety of factors that increase the vulnerability of adolescents to sexually transmitted diseases. One of the factors is the physical and hormonal changes that take place in the teenagers’ body physiology. Some of the changes trigger sexual urges hence vulnerability to sexually transmitted diseases. Most teenagers are rebellious and therefore will opt to go against the ethics of society. This factor automatically leads to risky sexual behavior hence increased chances of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Teenagers in the adolescence stage will engage in drug abuse and watch pornography from different sources such as magazines and movies. This increases the chances of them engaging in unprotected sex hence being at risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases.

            There are a variety of support systems that would assist teenagers in the adolescence stage. One of the systems that have proven to be effective is the brain training system. This system encourages teenagers on making rational decisions and advocates for responsible behavior. Stress management programs are as well among the support systems that have been helpful in helping teenagers in the adolescence stage. These systems are just but a few which have been considered effective in controlling the vulnerability of the social group from contracting sexually transmitted diseases.