Reproductive Health and Selected Psychosocial Variables of Adolescentsa Synthesis of Review Based Facts

Reproductive health is a series of rapid and interconnected developmental processes and is determined by both personal and contextual characteristics. Some of the most marked developmental changes in adolescence are in reproductive healthsexual identity, capacity of sexual intimacy and reproductive potential, nutritional level, awareness of sexual decision making, risk assessment and seeking help and avoiding problems. With this background the present authors concentrated on reviewed facts on causes, consequences and management of psychosocial variables related to reproductive health. Accordingly the study concentrated on the review of literature covering the following themes: * Reproductive health(sexual and nutritional health) and interrelation pattern (parents and peers) * Reproductive health (sexual and nutritional health) and mental health(depression and mental health status) Summary of objective observation indicated the following factsthe type of attachment with parents and social interaction with peers determines the way in which they resolve questions about sexual values and morals. This is often accompanied by symptoms of elevated anxiety, depression related to sexual behaviour and feelings of hopelessness, despair and chronic sadness. Studies with adolescents in developing countries found that despair and suicidal behaviour are common in adolescent survivors of childhood sexual abuse or sexual violence and that adolescent marriage is a risk factor for depression in girls. The nutritional status especially deficiency of iron leading to anemia, vitamin A, riboflavin and calcium plagues adolescent holistic reproductive health development.