**7. Psycho social intervention for families of adolescent girls in romantic relationship**

Working with family is an integral part for providing psycho-social interventions to adolescents. Family factors such as relationship with family members, early experiences in childhood, parenting practices, family dynamics, and parental response towards romantic involvement have contributed to partner selection and adopting risk behaviors among adolescents. Hence, it would be beneficial to give

*Maternal and Child Health Matters Around the World*

deprived emotional needs were fulfilled by their romantic partners and their needs were acknowledged and validated. Romantic partners were source of support and encouragement and they felt happy in their presence and contributed for

*The course of romantic relationship. Note: Conceptual frame work for understanding the course of romantic relationship was written based on the on the observations from the project of Dr. N Janardhana, Principal Investigator, 'psychosocial interventions for children in difficult circumstances', supported by KSICPS, Government of Karnataka and the doctoral research of MS Manjula, guided by Dr. N. Janardhana and* 

The course of romantic relationship is been given in the below diagram based on initiation phase, middle phase and commitment phase. The process of romantic relationship been described based on the experiences of adolescents in romantic relationship. Relationship in the below diagram described how the friendship got turned into infatuation and then eloping with their boyfriend to get marriage so that their marriage gets recognized from their

**5. Psychosocial interventions for adolescent girls and their families** 

Based on the above understanding of romantic relationship, we have delivered

social issues provided the framework for developing the psychosocial intervention for adolescent girls in the romantic relationship and their families. Psychosocial interventions have been formed based on the Social casework and group work approach. These interventions categorized as individual interventions, family interventions (sessions with parents and conjoint sessions with parents and

<sup>1</sup> Conceptual frame work for understanding the course of romantic relationship was written based on the on the observations from the project of Dr N Janardhana, Principal Investigator, 'psychosocial interventions for children in difficult circumstances', supported by KSICPS, Government of Karnataka and the

. The described psycho-

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adolescent).

quality of relationship.

**Figure 2.**

*Dr. Nirmala B.P.*

parents (**Figure 2**).

**in romantic relationship context**

following interventions for girls in romantic relationship1

doctoral research of MS Manjula, guided by Dr N. Janardhana and Dr Nirmala B. P.

family interventions to this particular cohort. Family plays an important role in the process of care plan for adolescent girls and ensuring care and protection for them in the future. It is also essential to discuss the concerns of parents as romantic involvement of their daughter and associated issues can have significant impact on the family.

Family interventions emphasize upon systemic approach and different schools of family therapies are psycho-dynamic approach, structural family therapy, strategic family therapy, solution focused, problem solving, cognitive behavioral family therapy, psycho-education, narrative approach, 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- child relationship, loss of trust and maladaptive coping strategies, etc. Families belong to the developmental life cycle stage of families with adolescent children reported significant challenges. For those families with dysfunctions, may need therapy sessions as either joint or conjoint sessions. The main aim of family interventions is to reduce risk factors in family, promote protective factors and enhance parent's skills to deal with the issues and safeguard care and protection of adolescents.
