<P> Furthermore, the amount of time adolescents spend on work and leisure activities varies greatly by culture as a result of cultural norms and expectations, as well as various socioeconomic factors . American teenagers spend less time in school or working and more time on leisure activities--which include playing sports, socializing, and caring for their appearance--than do adolescents in many other countries . These differences may be influenced by cultural values of education and the amount of responsibility adolescents are expected to assume in their family or community . </P> <P> Time management, financial roles, and social responsibilities of adolescents are therefore closely connected with the education sector and processes of career development for adolescents, as well as to cultural norms and social expectations . In many ways, adolescents' experiences with their assumed social roles and responsibilities determine the length and quality of their initial pathway into adult roles . </P> <P> Adolescence is frequently characterized by a transformation of an adolescent's understanding of the world, the rational direction towards a life course, and the active seeking of new ideas rather than the unquestioning acceptance of adult authority . An adolescent begins to develop a unique belief system through his or her interaction with social, familial, and cultural environments . While organized religion is not necessarily a part of every adolescent's life experience, youth are still held responsible for forming a set of beliefs about themselves, the world around them, and whatever higher powers they may or may not believe in . This process is often accompanied or aided by cultural traditions that intend to provide a meaningful transition to adulthood through a ceremony, ritual, confirmation, or rite of passage . </P> <P> Many cultures define the transition into adultlike sexuality by specific biological or social milestones in an adolescent's life . For example, menarche (the first menstrual period of a female), or semenarche (the first ejaculation of a male) are frequent sexual defining points for many cultures . In addition to biological factors, an adolescent's sexual socialization is highly dependent upon whether their culture takes a restrictive or permissive attitude toward teen or premarital sexual activity . In the United States specifically, adolescents are said to have "raging hormones" that drive their sexual desires . These sexual desires are then dramatized regarding teen sex and seen as "a site of danger and risk; that such danger and risk is a source of profound worry among adults". There is little to no normalization regarding teenagers having sex in the U.S., which causes conflict in how adolescents are taught about sex education . There is a constant debate about whether abstinence - only sex education or comprehensive sex education should be taught in schools and this stems back to whether or not the country it is being taught in is permissive or restrictive . Restrictive cultures overtly discourage sexual activity in unmarried adolescents or until an adolescent undergoes a formal rite of passage . These cultures may attempt to restrict sexual activity by separating males and females throughout their development, or through public shaming and physical punishment when sexual activity does occur . In less restrictive cultures, there is more tolerance for displays of adolescent sexuality, or of the interaction between males and females in public and private spaces . Less restrictive cultures may tolerate some aspects of adolescent sexuality, while objecting to other aspects . For instance, some cultures find teenage sexual activity acceptable but teenage pregnancy highly undesirable . Other cultures do not object to teenage sexual activity or teenage pregnancy, as long as they occur after marriage . In permissive societies, overt sexual behavior among unmarried teens is perceived as acceptable, and is sometimes even encouraged . Regardless of whether a culture is restrictive or permissive, there are likely to be discrepancies in how females versus males are expected to express their sexuality . Cultures vary in how overt this double standard is--in some it is legally inscribed, while in others it is communicated through social convention . Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth face much discrimination through bullying from those unlike them and may find telling others that they are gay to be a traumatic experience . The range of sexual attitudes that a culture embraces could thus be seen to affect the beliefs, lifestyles, and societal perceptions of its adolescents . </P>

Introduce special concern problem of adolescence in sudan