[et_pb_section][et_pb_row make_fullwidth="off" use_custom_width="off" width_unit="on" use_custom_gutter="off" padding_mobile="off" allow_player_pause="off" parallax="off" parallax_method="off" make_equal="off" padding_top_1="40" padding_bottom_1="20"][et_pb_column type="4_4"][et_pb_text admin_label="Title" background_layout="light" text_orientation="center" text_font_size="52" use_border_color="off" border_color="#ffffff" border_style="solid" custom_padding="10||10|" text_text_color="#666666"]<strong>The Dual Life of Adolescents</strong>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type="4_4"][et_pb_text admin_label="Content" background_layout="light" text_orientation="left" use_border_color="off" border_color="#ffffff" border_style="solid" custom_padding="20||20|"]<p>YTN’s research found that a majority of youth areleading a dual life with their parents to varying degrees, more often towards the more serious end of the spectrum. Depending upon the community, school or youth organization the range of youth leading dual lives fell between 60% and 90%.  Unfortunately in Christian schools and youth groups the percentages of youth leading dual lives was higher then in non-faith based organizations.</p>

<p>The dual life, as defined by the youth in our sessions,is knowing how to act and what to say when with parents or adults and then leading a very different life when apart from these influences. While the dual life existed when many of us grew up it was not as prevalent or as dark according to the youth we have interviewed.</p>

<p>The advent of technology, the busy schedule of parents, and the dramatic shift in the worldview of today’s adolescents have led to an explosion of young people working together to lead dual lives when apart from adults. Their strategies are fairly simple and straight- forward and accomplish the goal of getting around mom and dad’s rules or restrictions.</p>

<p>This dual life begins with small compromises that lead to larger and larger compromises as they realize they can get away with the dual life.  Communication with their parents decreases and youth develop a false sense of confidence in their own judgment.</p>

<p>One might expect that with such large percentages of youth leading dual lives that the issues would be so prevalent more parents would be aware of their kids’ dual lives than they are today.  This is because the dual life is held in check by the fact that youth are around their parents or other adults a majority of the time and can only escape into their dual life activities a small percentage of the time.  Thus the dual life is held in check until they leave home for work, the military or college.  This is one reason so many youth struggle in the transition to life on their own.  They are free from the watchful eyes and control of parents; the dual life can take over quickly in the first days on a college campus, on military leave, or in ones own apartment.</p>

<p>The root of the dual life appears to stem from parents’ misunderstanding as well as how they approach the sudden changes in their kids’ attitudes and behavior as they near adolescence.   These changes are caused by dramatic shifts within the adolescent brain that accompany puberty.  The parental response to these changes often leads to unresolved issues and increased conflict that causes youth to distance themselves from parents and begin to hide their failures. This is the first step toward a deceptive dual life.</p>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]