Managing the wild ride from boy to man: A multi-systems perspective.

Abstract

Considerable concern has been expressed recently about the plight of New Zealand boys. We begin by exploring the development of boys’ masculine identities in terms of the influence of society, community, peers, personal influences, family, and childhood experiences. We then focus upon four areas where teenage boys are particularly vulnerable: conduct disorder, substance abuse, communication difficulties, and suicide. In discussing the multiplicity of factors that both link and affect these risk areas for boys,we consider the value of multi-systemic approaches to counselling boys. We thereby hope to assist practitioners toward greater insights in their work with boys by pulling together a number of studies from national and international sources.