Psychiatric Problems Encountered in Urban Zulu Adolescents with Specific Reference to Changes in Sex Education

Abstract

Adolescent attitude has constantly challenged adult belief but current adolescent revolt is manifest in increased psychiatric symptomatology expressed through escalating aggression, violence, depression and drug dependency. This appears contingent upon radical disruption in family life and social disorganization subsequent to the Industrial Revolution. The authors suggest that the principle of peer group communication and adult inculcation of responsibility, existing in the pre-19th century European family or, for example, in traditional Zulu people, as described in South Africa, modified according to recent knowledge and applied to all groups of adolescents in Society, would materially reduce the incidence of current adolescent psychopathology.