**8. Psychosocial intervention for families of adolescent girls in the romantic relationship**

Working with family is an integral part of providing Psycho-Social interventions for adolescents. Family factors such as the relationship with family members, early experiences in family, parenting practices, family dynamics, and parental response towards romantic involvement have contributed to romantic involvement and risk behaviors among adolescents. Hence, it is very important to have family interventions. Apart from these, family plays a crucial role in the process of care plan for adolescent girls and ensuring care and protection in the future. It is also essential to address their concerns too as a romantic involvement of their daughter and associated issues have a significant impact on the family.

Family interventions emphasize upon systemic approach and family therapy services can be formed based on different schools of family therapy such as structural family therapy, strategic family therapy, solution focused, problem-solving, cognitive behavioral family therapy, integrated approach, etc.

The major issues identified at the family level are authoritative and punitive parenting, enmeshed boundaries, parental autonomy on children's marriage, impaired parent-adolescent relationship, loss of trust and maladaptive coping strategies, etc. These families are in the family life stage of families with adolescents and reported significant challenges. Family therapy sessions can be carried out as joint and conjoint sessions. The main aim of family interventions is to prevent risk factors in the family, promote protective factors and enhance parent's skills to deal with the issues and ensure care and protection of adolescents.

Individual sessions with parents or conjoint parent-adolescent can focus on the following areas in the family interventions;


**119**

areas:

family relationships.

desired behavioral and attitudinal changes.

*Adolescents Romantic Relationship: Dynamics of Parent-Child Relationship from India*

and care plan for ensuring care and protection of adolescents.

3.*Insight facilitation*: It includes reflective exercises on family factors such as quality of relationship among family members, parenting style, decisionmaking in the family, general family emotional environment, communication patterns, family values and attitudes, etc. These above-mentioned factors can act as precipitating or contributing for romantic involvement and risk behaviors among adolescents. This particular approach would help parents to understand, acknowledge and bring changes behavior and the way they deal

4.*Psycho-education*: It acknowledges parents perspectives and beliefs, sociocultural influence on adolescent romantic relationship and their disapproval of romantic involvement of daughter. At the same time bringing attitudinal changes by giving developmental perspective and other factors associated with romantic involvement. This approach emphasizes on romantic involvement as

5.*Parent management skills*: It helps in altering faulty parenting styles while dealing with adolescent issues and enhances open communication (negotiation, expressing concerns). It boosts mutual norms and healthy parenting to address temperament or behavioral issues. Role play method could use to enhance their

skills, prescriptive parenting—clarifying dos and don'ts for next 2 years.

essential to discuss about marriage and decision-making process.

• *Family life cycle stages-challenges and role of parents*: educating parents about family life cycle stages-especially on families with adolescents, about challenges and tasks. Emphasis is on role of parents in education, training, facilitating healthy transition to adulthood. As most of the adolescents moved to the next stage, it is

• *Ensuring family support for adolescent to fulfill responsibilities*: discuss about their support for facing challenges in community and responding to criticism, supporting each other, etc., which would help girl to focus on other developmental tasks such as education, career planning, healthy peer and

Conjoint sessions with parents and adolescent girls can focus on the following

• *Strengthening quality of parent and adolescent relationship* through rebuilding trust and family bond, facilitating mutual validation of their concerns, emphasize on significance of quality of relationship and its influence on bringing

• *Communication skills:* focusing on opportunity for open and direct communication and addressing barriers for expressiveness in the family, active listening,

Parental distress could be due to diminishing family's honor, legal procedures, social and economic consequences because of runaway behavior. Hence, addressing their emotions is very essential. Emotion focused therapy help them to deal with the emotions and prevents their behaviors/decisions driven by their emotions. Facilitating forgiveness and building trust between parent and adolescent is very essential in the process of rebuilding their relationship

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.81634*

with daughter's romantic involvement.

normative process and how it affects adolescents.

*Adolescents Romantic Relationship: Dynamics of Parent-Child Relationship from India DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.81634*

Parental distress could be due to diminishing family's honor, legal procedures, social and economic consequences because of runaway behavior. Hence, addressing their emotions is very essential. Emotion focused therapy help them to deal with the emotions and prevents their behaviors/decisions driven by their emotions. Facilitating forgiveness and building trust between parent and adolescent is very essential in the process of rebuilding their relationship and care plan for ensuring care and protection of adolescents.


Conjoint sessions with parents and adolescent girls can focus on the following areas:


*Maternal and Child Health Matters Around the World*

**7.3 Preventive approach**

gies to address them.

during the crisis.

cope effectively.

**in the romantic relationship**

ated issues have a significant impact on the family.

issues and ensure care and protection of adolescents.

following areas in the family interventions;

cognitive behavioral family therapy, integrated approach, etc.

opmental tasks and facilitating the same.

to law and advantages of following desired behaviors.

**8. Psychosocial intervention for families of adolescent girls** 

Identifying their needs, challenges and support required to meet these devel-

• Prevention of further risk behaviors in future—facilitate discussion with the girl on identifying triggers/precipitating factors which may make them repeat risk-taking behaviors and enable their critical thinking to come up with strate-

• Preparing them Emphasize upon healthy relationship during courtship, adhere

• Providing information on resource agencies and contact details to seek help

• Enable them to face the social consequences such as criticism, labeling and

Working with family is an integral part of providing Psycho-Social interventions for adolescents. Family factors such as the relationship with family members, early experiences in family, parenting practices, family dynamics, and parental response towards romantic involvement have contributed to romantic involvement and risk behaviors among adolescents. Hence, it is very important to have family interventions. Apart from these, family plays a crucial role in the process of care plan for adolescent girls and ensuring care and protection in the future. It is also essential to address their concerns too as a romantic involvement of their daughter and associ-

Family interventions emphasize upon systemic approach and family therapy services can be formed based on different schools of family therapy such as structural family therapy, strategic family therapy, solution focused, problem-solving,

The major issues identified at the family level are authoritative and punitive parenting, enmeshed boundaries, parental autonomy on children's marriage, impaired parent-adolescent relationship, loss of trust and maladaptive coping strategies, etc. These families are in the family life stage of families with adolescents and reported significant challenges. Family therapy sessions can be carried out as joint and conjoint sessions. The main aim of family interventions is to prevent risk factors in the family, promote protective factors and enhance parent's skills to deal with the

Individual sessions with parents or conjoint parent-adolescent can focus on the

1. *Supportive interventions*: facilitating ventilation and validation of their concerns and seeking their active participation in the therapy and care plan process. It also looks in to the coping strategies of parents and designed to treat parent behavior, parent mental health, adolescent behavior, family function, etc.

adolescent daughter as shameful act and express anger/hostility towards them.

2.*Emotion focused therapy*: parents perceive romantic involvement of their

**118**

acknowledging concerns, clear communication and seeking clarifications on meaning, and intentions. Encouraging negotiation between parent and adolescent and emphasize on consensus on the accepted behaviors and mutual expectations.


#### **9. Discussion**

The course of the romantic relationship identified knowledge about romantic partner, strategies used by romantic partner or respondents to initiate the relationship, process of accepting and forming the relationship, discussing about maintaining relationship—open versus hiding relationship, factors contributed them to take decision of run away from home, their quality of relationship and intimacy.

In the current study, romantic partner were first met in the neighborhood, near the area of residence or school, on the way to school or through social media. Most of them were familiar to each other and thus initiated the friendship. In most of the cases, boys took the initiative to propose by approaching directly, through common friends, telephonic conversations or through social media like Facebook. It is interesting to note that men initiated the relationship forming, which shows the socio-culture influence in initiating the relationship. Though respondents had more expressiveness, with regard to initiating the relationship they were shy, had inhibitions. Hence, they have taken time to respond to agree to the relationship. Meantime they focused on background check with close friends and get convinced before saying yes for the relationship. However, most of them were not completely aware about the family background of the romantic partners. During the course of the relationship, they tried to maintain the secrecy from family and peers to avoid the complications. Most of them thought of getting married after few years with the consent of parents.

Studies on premarital relationships among youth in India demonstrated that despite strict parental supervision, girls found ways of forming romantic friendships and engaging in sexual relations [41]. During the later stages of the relationship, when the family got to know about their romantic involvement, they had decided to elope with their romantic partner due to fear of family, lack parental approval and punitive behaviors to prevent their romantic involvement. Similar results were found in the case reports and quantitative results. Run away from home was used as the immediate solution to continue in romantic involvement and avoid issues in the family. In a study on dynamics of parent-child relationship in romantic involvement context, lack of parental support for choice marriage, restrictive parenting style were found as major issues [12].

**121**

development.

**10. Conclusion**

*Adolescents Romantic Relationship: Dynamics of Parent-Child Relationship from India*

and they were the main source of emotional support to them.

seek to understand the underlying issues causing such behavior.

and issues and found to be useful in this set up [12, 13, 48].

The days spend with romantic partner developed intimacy—initially as a force from romantic partner and also for the social reasons like sex as a means to convince family for the marriage and current marital status as an approval to engage in physical intimacy. Studies on sexuality and reproductive health behaviors among youths in India identified physical intimacy among youth both in romantic and non-romantic context, safe and unsafe sexual behaviors [42–44]. While staying with their romantic partner they received care, supportive gesture and open communication, which indicates the quality of relationship with their romantic partner

The above findings on course on romantic relationship are similar to the romantic involvement model during adolescence; Initiation Phase—beginning of interest in the opposite sex; superficial selection process; interactions are weak attempts at establishing a romantic relationship (physical characteristics); Affiliation Phase observes behaviors and attitudes; focus on companionship (social characteristics); Intimate Phase—focus of the paired relationship is intimacy (deep feelings of emotional attachment) and often sexual activity and the last phase; Committed Phase adolescent romantic relationships are established and exclusive at times, resembling the marriage relationship; more intense relationships; more caring towards their romantic partner; better at resolving conflict within the relationship [45].

Interventions for adolescents to deal with their RR includes rapport establishment, not taking sides of either adolescent or their parents. Interventions started with their understanding of personal safety, sexuality and reproductive health, and its importance. Discussions were held on the legal framework governing children in India. Help adolescent to look at their developmental tasks like academic involvement or vocational training. Support was extended to adolescents to set short term and long term goals. Preventive and promotive mental health interventions for enhancing psychosocial competence were provided. Supportive therapeutic interventions could assist adolescent girls to learn healthy ways of relating to others [46]. Helping professionals need to recognize, respond to the issues and problems of adolescent in RR [47]; dealing with their relationship with the parents; dealing with the community attitudes; building support network. Carlson [48] asserted that counselors working with youth must not only recognize violent actions, but also

Under the project entitled "psychosocial interventions for children in difficult circumstances" services were provided at the children home for girls, Bangalore. Adolescent girls and their families those who approached Child Welfare Committee in romantic involvement context were also received psychosocial interventions. The above mentioned areas of interventions were provided to them based on their needs

Romantic relationship during adolescence has received developmental significance and has both positive and negative outcomes for adolescents. Many adolescents due to many factors like high risk behaviors, unhealthy relationship, violation of legal norms and others force them to be in crisis situation. This affects their relationship with family, academics and other opportunities, affecting their development process. Providing interventions to these children and adolescents is important. Understanding adolescent issues from developmental perspective helps in designing programmes for adolescents and their family members. This would facilitate healthy transition to adulthood and enables them to take part in societal

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.81634*

#### *Adolescents Romantic Relationship: Dynamics of Parent-Child Relationship from India DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.81634*

The days spend with romantic partner developed intimacy—initially as a force from romantic partner and also for the social reasons like sex as a means to convince family for the marriage and current marital status as an approval to engage in physical intimacy. Studies on sexuality and reproductive health behaviors among youths in India identified physical intimacy among youth both in romantic and non-romantic context, safe and unsafe sexual behaviors [42–44]. While staying with their romantic partner they received care, supportive gesture and open communication, which indicates the quality of relationship with their romantic partner and they were the main source of emotional support to them.

The above findings on course on romantic relationship are similar to the romantic involvement model during adolescence; Initiation Phase—beginning of interest in the opposite sex; superficial selection process; interactions are weak attempts at establishing a romantic relationship (physical characteristics); Affiliation Phase observes behaviors and attitudes; focus on companionship (social characteristics); Intimate Phase—focus of the paired relationship is intimacy (deep feelings of emotional attachment) and often sexual activity and the last phase; Committed Phase adolescent romantic relationships are established and exclusive at times, resembling the marriage relationship; more intense relationships; more caring towards their romantic partner; better at resolving conflict within the relationship [45].

Interventions for adolescents to deal with their RR includes rapport establishment, not taking sides of either adolescent or their parents. Interventions started with their understanding of personal safety, sexuality and reproductive health, and its importance. Discussions were held on the legal framework governing children in India. Help adolescent to look at their developmental tasks like academic involvement or vocational training. Support was extended to adolescents to set short term and long term goals. Preventive and promotive mental health interventions for enhancing psychosocial competence were provided. Supportive therapeutic interventions could assist adolescent girls to learn healthy ways of relating to others [46]. Helping professionals need to recognize, respond to the issues and problems of adolescent in RR [47]; dealing with their relationship with the parents; dealing with the community attitudes; building support network. Carlson [48] asserted that counselors working with youth must not only recognize violent actions, but also seek to understand the underlying issues causing such behavior.

Under the project entitled "psychosocial interventions for children in difficult circumstances" services were provided at the children home for girls, Bangalore. Adolescent girls and their families those who approached Child Welfare Committee in romantic involvement context were also received psychosocial interventions. The above mentioned areas of interventions were provided to them based on their needs and issues and found to be useful in this set up [12, 13, 48].

### **10. Conclusion**

*Maternal and Child Health Matters Around the World*

acknowledging concerns, clear communication and seeking clarifications on meaning, and intentions. Encouraging negotiation between parent and adolescent and emphasize on consensus on the accepted behaviors and mutual expectations.

• *Structural changes*: here focus is on healthy boundaries between adolescent and parents, setting clear boundaries on areas of parental involvement. Here it is very essential to discuss autonomy of adolescents and role of parents, at the

• *Problem solving approach*: here emphasis is on address their concerns on supporting girl's education/vocational training, reintegration with family. Ensure active participation of both adolescent girl and parents in generating healthy alternatives. Facilitate seeking clarification, sharing mutual concerns and reaching consensus about studies, reintegration with family or placement in organizations.

• *Behavioral approach*: discusses on expectations, setting norms for dos and don'ts in conjoint sessions. Facilitating both adolescent girl and parents discuss on their expectations from each other, reaching consensus on expected behaviors and non-acceptable behaviors. They can also negotiate for rewards for

The course of the romantic relationship identified knowledge about romantic partner, strategies used by romantic partner or respondents to initiate the relationship, process of accepting and forming the relationship, discussing about maintaining relationship—open versus hiding relationship, factors contributed them to take

In the current study, romantic partner were first met in the neighborhood, near the area of residence or school, on the way to school or through social media. Most of them were familiar to each other and thus initiated the friendship. In most of the cases, boys took the initiative to propose by approaching directly, through common friends, telephonic conversations or through social media like Facebook. It is interesting to note that men initiated the relationship forming, which shows the socio-culture influence in initiating the relationship. Though respondents had more expressiveness, with regard to initiating the relationship they were shy, had inhibitions. Hence, they have taken time to respond to agree to the relationship. Meantime they focused on background check with close friends and get convinced before saying yes for the relationship. However, most of them were not completely aware about the family background of the romantic partners. During the course of the relationship, they tried to maintain the secrecy from family and peers to avoid the complications. Most of them thought of getting married after few years with the consent of parents. Studies on premarital relationships among youth in India demonstrated that despite strict parental supervision, girls found ways of forming romantic friendships and engaging in sexual relations [41]. During the later stages of the relationship, when the family got to know about their romantic involvement, they had decided to elope with their romantic partner due to fear of family, lack parental approval and punitive behaviors to prevent their romantic involvement. Similar results were found in the case reports and quantitative results. Run away from home was used as the immediate solution to continue in romantic involvement and avoid issues in the family. In a study on dynamics of parent-child relationship in romantic involvement context, lack of parental support for choice marriage, restrictive

decision of run away from home, their quality of relationship and intimacy.

desired behaviors and consequences of undesired behaviors.

same time ensuring autonomy of parent to prevent risky behaviors.

**120**

parenting style were found as major issues [12].

**9. Discussion**

Romantic relationship during adolescence has received developmental significance and has both positive and negative outcomes for adolescents. Many adolescents due to many factors like high risk behaviors, unhealthy relationship, violation of legal norms and others force them to be in crisis situation. This affects their relationship with family, academics and other opportunities, affecting their development process. Providing interventions to these children and adolescents is important. Understanding adolescent issues from developmental perspective helps in designing programmes for adolescents and their family members. This would facilitate healthy transition to adulthood and enables them to take part in societal development.

*Maternal and Child Health Matters Around the World*
