(This article was originally published in the July edition of "What's Happening!")
Motivating and inspiring young adults is a daunting task. Generational gaps make it difficult for established adults to connect with younger groups, creating a system in which the young are often disenfranchised from society in general. Older generations may find it difficult to understand the perspective of younger people.
Unfortunately, this situation is one that is often bidirectional in nature. Older and younger generations often believe that they have nothing in common. This leads to a lack of understanding, which can negatively impact both generations. The impact of generational disconnect is quite significant for both the individual and society.
Generational disconnect can make it difficult for young people to feel connected to society or to something larger then themselves. Youth that are not engaged in the community via some type of education, employment and training or social involvement are more likely to become teenage parents, to have mental health problems, to engage in substance use/abuse and/or to be involved with the criminal justice system.
Without vital connections, youth can become disenfranchised, making it difficult for them to see their larger role in society and the importance of issues such as education, economic stability and maintaining health.
While these issues will shape the trajectory of the young adult’s life, they will also have consequences for society. Young adults with social, economic and health problems will consume scarce public resources rather than contributing to social improvement. Additionally, youth that are disconnected from society will be less likely to contribute through gainful employment.
In addition to consuming scarce public resources, these disconnected youth will not be contributing to the very system that supports them. Because of these outcomes, the motivation of young adults toward success is an issue for all of us to address.
Clearly, established adults must acknowledge the challenging social and economic conditions that face young adults as they attempt to grow and mature. Society has changed remarkably over the last few decades and older generations may not be aware of how these issues impact the health, well being and functioning of youth.
Thus, when working with younger generations, it is imperative that older generations exercise extra patience and recognition that support of the young adult may be challenging. If these types of supports are not provided by older adults in the community, youth may find it both difficult and frustrating to engage, leading to even higher rates of disenfranchisement.
Although patience and support are critical to motivating young adults, so, too are providing young adults with the tools and resources needed to be successful. Young adults need access to financial, educational and social resources that may not be accessible in some instances. Without access to these resources, young adults may struggle to fit in to society and to connect with others.
With this in mind, it is evident that established adults must find a balance between being patient and intervening to help promote the best interests of young adults. Arguably, finding this balance can be difficult. But if you know of a youth that is struggling, you may need to consider action outside of patience in order to motivate the young adult.
Fortunately, motivation is something that can be accomplished through therapeutic help and support. Mental health professionals trained to meet the unique needs of young adults can help facilitate an understanding of the impediments to growth. This insight can be helpful for enabling young adults to move forward and achieve desired goals.
Parents and loved ones can be instrumental in helping unmotivated young adults acquire this type of support. Through encouragement and love, parents can provide an important bridge between the young adult and therapeutic help. Although young adults may be reluctant to seek therapeutic support, the process can be transformative for the young adult, creating the foundation needed for goal achievement and success.
Recognition that a young adult needs help is thus just as important as providing help to the individual. Parents and loved ones must be willing to accept the fact that just because their children reach the age of adulthood, this does not always mean that they are ready to tackle the challenges of life on their own.
Therapeutic support can be an important foundation for facilitating the growth and development needed to engage the young adult in the larger community. Clearly, making these connections will be vital to facilitating the health of the young adult and building the foundation of the community.
Dr. Clatch practices at the Courage to Connect Therapeutic Center, 2400 Ravine Way, Suite 600, Glenview. For more info, call 847-730-3042 or visit couragetoconnecttherapy.com.
