Introduction
Rapid weight loss in teens is concerning since it may indicate underlying health or mental problems. To achieve the correct comprehension and resolution, it is necessary to use specialist techniques when assessing this problem in non-verbal teenagers. This essay examines how psychological tests may be used to assess sudden weight loss in non-verbal adolescents, emphasizing two particular assessments. (Anderson, 2014)Additionally, it handles any cultural background variances in the evaluation process. In order to provide a thorough understanding, the essay draws on relevant psychological ideas, models, and theories. It takes specialized techniques to uncover the underlying causes of weight loss in non-verbal teenagers. With the use of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, developmental domains may be better understood, allowing for the identification of possible psychological contributions. The Child Behavior Checklist may also aid in identifying emotional or behavioral problems causing weight loss. However, it is crucial to conduct evaluations with cultural sensitivity. Different eating practices, communication approaches, and cultural body image standards may impact weight loss triggers and assessment strategies.
Psychological Test for Assessment
The Behavior Assessment System for Adolescent
The Behavior Assessment System for Adolescents, Third Edition (BASC-3) is a comprehensive and important instrument to assess the emotional and behavioral problems that frequently arise in young children and adolescents through their developmental phases. The BASC-3 employs a holistic approach and includes forms for self-report, teacher report, and parent report, allowing for a thorough examination of the person’s psychological status. (Smink, 2014)The parent or caregiver report form is crucial when verbal communication may be restricted, as is sometimes the case with nonverbal teenagers. This form solicits feedback from persons who have a close relationship with the teenager and asks them to assess several elements, including behaviors, emotions, and adaptive abilities.
Such a report may reveal unnoticed behavioral patterns, mental suffering, or modifications in functional abilities that may be linked to weight reduction. It is noteworthy that this form tries to record a variety of significant behavioral and emotional characteristics. For instance, significant changes in sleep patterns may indicate that the person’s emotional stability is being disrupted. Additionally, differences in how they regulate their emotions may provide information about their coping strategies and reveal probable stress or anxiety triggers. Changes in social relationships may reveal underlying psychological issues that require additional investigation.
The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales
A popular assessment instrument for measuring adaptive behavior in people from birth to adulthood is the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Second Edition (Vineland-II). This thorough assessment uses organized interviews or questionnaires with caregivers, including parents or guardians, to evaluate a person’s competence in adaptive functioning skills. These categories include motor skills, socializing, daily living skills, and communication. The Vineland-II examination acquires special relevance in situations involving non-verbal teenagers, such as the instance described. (Canino, 2020) Adolescents who are nonverbal frequently experience particular difficulties communicating their wants, feelings, and opinions, making it crucial to use thorough techniques to comprehend their adaptability and potential regression regions. The Vineland-II exam can provide a comprehensive view of the person’s functional capacity and any limitations in their adaptive skills when paired with the alarming element of fast weight loss in the teenager.
Engaging caregivers with important knowledge of the adolescent’s daily routines, communication styles, social interactions, and physical abilities is crucial in the diagnostic process. Caregivers can get comprehensive information on the patient’s capacities for efficient communication, independent performance of necessary daily chores, participation in social interactions, and control over motor functions through a structured interview or questionnaire. The Vineland-II gathers this variety of information and creates a thorough picture of the adolescent’s adaptive behavior. This strategy provides insightful information about the adolescent’s overall well-being and developmental trajectory by connecting the possible impact of weight reduction to the evaluation results. A considerable drop in adaptive abilities may indicate that weight loss has negatively impacted the person’s physical and mental health. This thorough knowledge can also help determine possible causes of weight loss, such as underlying medical conditions, mental discomfort, or alterations in the person’s surroundings.
Cultural consideration
Cultural variables can influence a person’s actions, attitudes, and perceptions. Therefore, assessment procedures must consider this. Below is how cultural background could affect the judgment, especially by contrasting a White teenager with a Hispanic adolescent.
Assessment for a White Adolescent
The influence of cultural norms and societal expectations on White adolescents’ impressions of their bodies cannot be overstated. There is a pervasive emphasis on thinness and appearance as standards of attractiveness and self-worth in Western countries. This pervasive idealization of a specific body type can seriously contribute to teen body dissatisfaction and undesirable weight management measures. The Social Comparison Theory and other psychological theories can illuminate how this adolescent may deal with body image issues. According to this notion, people frequently assess their value and sense of self by comparing themselves to others. The continual exposure of White adolescents to media representations of inflated beauty standards, frequently promoted by social media platforms, might result in negative self-evaluations. The teenager may then get motivated to lose weight quickly to meet these unreasonable expectations.
The Health Belief Model further offers a framework for understanding how teenagers view their circumstance’s seriousness and vulnerability to prospective health problems. According to this paradigm, people are more likely to take health-related actions if they perceive they are at risk for a certain health condition and the remedies prevent or reduce the problem. Understanding the adolescent’s thoughts on the health implications of their exercise is crucial for quick weight loss. In order to understand the adolescent’s motives and any potential obstacles to obtaining treatment, assessors should inquire about their attitudes on health, diet, and self-care. (Southon, 2004) A holistic approach is required to comprehend the adolescent’s circumstances fully. Their impressions of their bodies and activities related to them are influenced by their familial environment, peer relationships, and school experiences. Adolescents’ motivations for their activities can be better understood by having an open dialogue with them and their support system.
Assessment for a Hispanic Adolescent
A Hispanic adolescent may experience considerable behavioral and reaction changes due to negotiating the complex web of cultural influences, ultimately impacting the teenager’s psychological well-being. Collectivism and close family relationships are two important cultural characteristics frequently connected to Hispanic populations. The Cultural Syndromes Model is useful in this situation, illuminating the relationship between a person’s mind and cultural standards. Examining the cultural forces that shape an adolescent’s life while evaluating their experiences is essential. Using the Cultural Syndromes Model, assessors can analyze how family dynamics, social support networks, and cultural expectations affect the adolescent’s weight loss. The familial component in Hispanic cultures influences adolescents’ perceptions and reactions to obstacles, frequently fostering a greater sense of dependency and collective responsibility.
The possibility of muted vocal representation of distress is a deep aspect of this cultural milieu. Adolescents may channel their worry into bodily symptoms like weight loss in collectivist societies where openly expressing pain is seen as burdening the family. This phenomenon highlights the complex interplay between cultural norms and psychological manifestations, highlighting the demand for evaluation methods sensitive to cultural differences. The Cultural Formulation Interview from the DSM-5 appears useful in addressing the complexity of a Hispanic adolescent’s experience. (Wood, 2010) This instrument offers a more thorough investigation of the cultural identity of the teenager, the distinctive stresses resulting from their cultural heritage, and the cultural assets that support their resilience. Clinicians can thoroughly grasp the adolescent’s difficulties by peeling back these layers, enabling a more sophisticated and successful treatment approach.
Furthermore, it is critical to acknowledge the variety of cultural influences at work, given the diversity of Hispanic cultures. Age variations, acculturation degree, and place of origin can considerably influence an individual’s experience. As a result, evaluations must be undertaken carefully to account for these subtleties while avoiding making assumptions and generalizations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is important to carefully evaluate psychological assessments designed for non-verbal teenagers when evaluating fast weight reduction in this population. Tests like the Vineland-II and BASC-3 can provide light on the emotional and behavioral changes connected to weight reduction. Additionally, cultural factors are important since they affect a person’s actions, motives, and ways of expressing their discomfort. Social comparison and the health belief model are two ideas that may be used to understand how society views White teens’ bodies and beauty standards. However, theories like collectivism and the Cultural Syndromes Model might guide evaluating teenagers of Hispanic descent. Clinicians may support non-verbal adolescents who are losing weight quickly by including these psychological ideas, models, and theories in their evaluations to help them be more nuanced and culturally sensitive.
References
Anderson, A. N., Kennedy, H., DeWitt, P., Anderson, E., & Wamboldt, M. Z. (2014). Dance/movement therapy impacts adolescents’ mood states in a psychiatric hospital. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 41(3), 257–262.
Canino, I. A., & Spurlock, J. (2020). Culturally diverse children and adolescents: Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. Guilford Press.
Smink, F. R., van Hoeken, D., Oldehinkel, A. J., & Hoek, H. W. (2014). Prevalence and severity of DSM-5 eating disorders in a community cohort of adolescents. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 47(6), 610–619.
Southon, S., Wright, A. J. A., Finglas, P. M., Bailey, A. L., Loughridge, J. M., & Walker, A. D. (2004). Dietary intake and micronutrient status of adolescents: effect of vitamin and trace element supplementation on indices of status and performance in verbal and non-verbal intelligence tests. British Journal of Nutrition, 71(6), 897–918.
Wood, N., & Dockrell, J. (2010). Psychological assessment procedures for assessing deaf or hard-of-hearing children. Educational and Child Psychology, 27 (2), 11.
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