Youth Ministry Lesson - Youth Self-Image: Primary Influences

Youth Ministry Lesson -
Youth Self-Image: Primary
Influences
www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com
www.CreativeSermonIdeas.com

Learn the 7 primary factors that influence a positive youth's self
esteem. Great for youth ministry, parents of youth, and anyone
else that is interested in helping youth to develop a healthy self-
concept / self-esteem / self-image.

Self-Esteem and Self-Image are issues that all youth have to address.
During the teenage years, the primary developmental task for youth is
discovering their identity, their life purpose, their mission in this world.
Youth are asking the question, “Who am I?” and “Why am I here?”
One step to helping your church youth deal with these critical questions is
in understanding some of the primary issues that influence a young
person’s self-esteem or self-image.

Here are seven primary factors that effect a youth’s self-image.
1. Age that Youth Physically Mature
Youth progress to different stages of maturity at different speeds.
Guys tend to be a little behind the girls in maturity, but every youth
is different and growing and maturing at a different rate. In relation
to their peers, there will always be some youth that are a little
behind their peers and some that are a little ahead. Interestingly this
is often tied to their physical maturity.

If they mature physically earlier than their peers, because they look
more like adults, people often treat them more like adults and these
youth tend to generally develop a fairly positive self-image. Youth
who mature physically a little later than their peers, still look more
like children and are treated by adults as children. These youth who
mature a little later often feel misunderstood and more likely to have
negative self image and maladjusted behavior.

Implications and Ideas for Youth Ministry
Don’t treat youth differently based on physical maturity. Treat everyone
of a specific age group the same as mush as possible, both in leadership
responsibilities as well as in other interactions. Don’t single out those
who are a little behind in physical maturity, not give all the leadership
and responsibilities to those who are more mature.

2. Physical Appearance
Youth are very peer conscious. They are always comparing
themselves to their peers. While some may strive to be different,
most prefer to hide in the crowd, to blend in with their peers. For
most youth, If they look different from their peers they see
themselves as being strange and potentially inferior. This is
especially true for the primary sexual characteristics such as body
hair, breast development in the girls and muscle and genital
development in the guys.

Even if they are more attractive because of their male physique or
feminine curves it can still lead to a poor self-image simply because they
see themselves as different from their peers. Physical differences such as
a large nose, or bigger than usual ears or even being too thin or simply a
little bigger than their peers can lead to inferiority issues. When it is a
physical defect or even simple things like acne or rashes it can still have a
negative impact on their self-image. The more embarrassing or unusual
he difference, the greater the impact

Do not draw attention to physical differences
among youth, especially if it is something that could
lead to embarrassment of any kind. Try to avoid
activities that highlight the differences and always
be affirming to youth regarding their appearance.

3. Sex-Appropriateness
Sex-appropriate characteristics are essential for a healthy self-
esteem among youth. This includes appearance, interests, and
behavior. Guys that appear a little more effeminate and girls
that appear too masculine tend to have problems in self-
esteem. Youth have nicknames for them such as a “sissy” for a
less masculine guy and “tom-boy” for a less feminine girl.

Some youth have more trouble forming a healthy self-image if they
aspire to occupations that tend to be dominated by the opposite
sex. For example, hair dressers are often seen as a woman’s job and
construction work is often seen as a man’s job. Finally there might
be specific mannerisms and interests that again are commonly
associated with the opposite sex. These can also be hurdles for
them to overcome in developing a positive self-image.

Try not to reinforce stereotypes for jobs and behaviors. Avoid masculine /
feminine comparisons and instead treat everyone as brothers and sisters
in Christ. Always affirm youth for who they are and for what they do as an
individual rather than as simply a guy or a girl. Always try to include sports
and activities that balance out the need for both guys and girls on each
team. Always try to have a variety of positive role models serving within
your youth ministry team including singles, couples, and people from a
variety of occupations and walks of life.

4. Names and Nicknames
Youth are sensitive and embarrassed if their peers judge a nickname
unfavorably or if they are given nicknames that are meant or even implies
ridicule. Nicknames can often stick with a person for life.
Nicknames and labels are to be avoided at all costs as they tend to highlight
the negative. If you hear a youth using negative labels or nicknames,
encourage them to use more positive ones. Set the example yourself by
using positive labels that affirm the positive qualities in each youth.

5. Family Relationships
Teens who have very close relationships with a particular family member will
identify most closely with this person. As such, they tend to desire similar
personality traits. This can be positive or negative. They say that if you want to
know how a guy will treat his wife, look at how he treats his mother. If you want
to know how a girl will treat a future husband, look at how they treat their
father. At the same time, this desire to be like the most-liked parent can be
detrimental if it goes over the line of causing sexually ambiguous behavior and
characteristics. Lack of positive family relationships and positive role models can
also cause problems for youth regarding their self-image.

Have a variety of role models serving on your youth ministry team. Singles,
dating couples, young couples, couples with children, couples with teens, and
couples that have been married for a long time all help youth in affirming their
own identities and coming to a positive self-image. Provide opportunities for
youth to form significant bonds with others outside their immediate family. This
gives them a broader perspective on things to appreciate in their own families
as well as helps them to have a variety of models in choosing how they will
develop their own relationships and their own identity in those relationships.

6. Peers
Peers place a primary role in the identity formation of youth. During the
teen years they start looking outside the immediately family for keys to their
own identity. Peers influence a youth’s personality in two primary ways.
First, what a youth believes about himself is often a reflection of what he
perceives that his peers believe about him. Second, a youth is often under a
lot of pressure to conform to the personality traits and behavior that is
approved by his peers.

Try to create an environment with yourself, your volunteers and the rest of the
youth that is affirming and supportive for the youth. While peer pressure can
be negative, it can also be very positive. Affirm youth as leaders and who are
good role models. Help to mentor those who need a little more help. Make
affirmations and recognition a regular part of everything you do in youth
ministry. And when possible, without embarrassing the youth, make that
recognition public to the rest of the youth.

7. Level of Aspiration
Everyone has dreams and goals and aspirations. Youth are often asking
the question, “Why am I here?” “What is my purpose in life?” “What is
the meaning behind my existence?” But this is also a tricky area when it
comes to youth with fragile self-esteem. They need to have big dreams
and goals to drive them forward, but if the dreams are too big they can
experience failure and great disappointment. Mistakes and failures, if
not handled just right can lead to anxiety and feelings that they are not
good enough or even the thought that “I am a failure.”

At the same expectation that are too low leads to mediocrity and become
without purpose, wandering through life without direction. It has been said
that the bigger our dreams, the bigger we become. But also has a greater
risk of failure. We need to help youth to be realistic in their aspirations, but
at the same time not to be complacent to live only in their comfort zone.
Youth who are realistic about his or her abilities will gain greater self-
confidence with each success and, with it, a better self-concept.

Always challenge youth to dream big but also be
realistic dreams. Youth need champions in the
youth ministry, people who will cheer them on in
their dreams and support them and encourage
them in both success and in failure.

By the way, this is not only useful
for youth, but it’s great
information for parents of youth
to consider as well.

Creative Youth Ideas
Camp Bible Study Series
“Who Do You Say that I AM?”
www.creativeyouthideas.com/resources/whodoyousay.html
-> Tell me about “Who Do You Say that I AM?”
Jesus asked the disciples, "Who do others
say that I am?" It was easy to answer
because it required no conviction, no
commitment, and no risk. But then he
follows that question with another, "Who
do YOU say that I am?"

Live the Fruitful, Abundant Life
Jesus Promised. Great for youth camps or
weekly Youth Bible Study. There are 7
Primary Bible study Sessions in the series.
www.creativeyouthideas.com/resources/fruitofthespirit.html
-> Tell me about “Fruit Of the Spirit”
Creative Youth Ideas
Youth Camp Bible Study Series
“Fruit Of the Spirit”

Youth Ministry Lesson - Youth Self-Image: Primary Influences

Recomendados

Recomendados

Más contenido relacionado

La actualidad más candente

La actualidad más candente (20)

Similar a Youth Ministry Lesson - Youth Self-Image: Primary Influences

Similar a Youth Ministry Lesson - Youth Self-Image: Primary Influences (18)

Más de Ken Sapp

Más de Ken Sapp (20)

Último

Último (20)

Youth Ministry Lesson - Youth Self-Image: Primary Influences