Adolescent Health: Development
Adolescence is a transitional developmental period between childhood and adulthood that is characterized by more biological, psychological, and social role changes than any other stage of life except infancy. For some adolescents, it is a period of adaptation and improved mental health, but for others it is a difficult period with increasing levels of psychological problems. The following sections highlight this critical period in a child's development when future outcomes can be dramatically altered in positive or negative directions.
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Biological/Pubertal Changes
The peak of pubertal development occurs two years earlier in the average female than in the average male. Across individuals, however, there is substantial variation in the time when puberty begins, how long it continues, and when it ends. Unlike the newborn, adolescents are aware of the physical changes associated with puberty. The manner in which the family and peers respond to the adolescent's advancing development will impact how such events are experienced.
Psychological/Cognitive Changes
During adolescence, a fairly sophisticated way of thinking develops which is characterized by an ability to think in terms of possibilities, to think realistically about the future, to think about consequences, and to think about hypothetical situations. It is important to remember that there appears to be no link between physical development and cognitive development. For example, an early maturing boy who appears more developed than the majority of his peers is not necessarily able to think more abstractly or complexly than others his age.
Adolescents and their Families
Adolescence is a time of transformation in family relationships. A period of increased emotional distance in the parent-adolescent relationship tends to appear at the peak of pubertal change. Adolescents are increasingly able and willing to discuss (and argue about) issues with their parents in more complex ways, to see the flaws in their parents' arguments, to imagine what it would be like to have different parents, and to think about their parent's marital relationship separate from their own relationships with their parents. One of the major tasks for parents during this developmental period is to be responsive to adolescents' needs for increasing responsibility and decision-making power in the family while at the same time maintaining a close, positive family environment.
Adolescents and their Peers
Friendships are necessities and not luxuries and these peer relationships have positive effects on cognitive, social, language, sex role, and moral development. It is in friendship relationships that the child learns about intimacy, and these friendships serve as a basis for later close relationships. The family can provide a secure base for a child's exploration into the world of peers.
Adolescents at School and at Work
In addition to having an impact on cognition and achievement, school is an important environment for the development of an adolescent's personality, values, and social relationships. Physical setting, limitations in resources, philosophies of education, teacher expectations, curriculum characteristics, and interactions between teachers and students have been found to be related to a variety of child and adolescent outcomes. Children whose parents are involved in their school activities tend to do better academically.
Views on Adolescence: Then and Now
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Our research team is particularly interested in the changes that happen in adolescence. Although we still have a lot to learn, we have come a long way over the years. Here is a historical perspective on what we have learned about adolescence over the years.
G. Stanley Hall was one of the first "modern-day" psychologists to study and write about adolescents. In 1904, Hall wrote a book in which he theorized that the lifelong growth and development of each person reflects the growth and development of the species over time. According to Hall, adolescence represents the point in human evolution when we first became rational, higher-level being, but were still "savages." He described adolescence as the "infancy of man's higher nature," during which "more completely human traits" began to emerge (and you thought you were human already!). He wrote about the mood swings of adolescents, "Now it is prone to laughter, hearty and perhaps almost convulsive…But this, too, reacts into pain and dysphoria…Young people weep and sigh, they know not why." He described adolescence as a period of "storm and stress," because the adolescent is emotionally unstable, "strewn with wreckage of body, mind, and morals…hoodlumism, juvenile crime, and secret vice." Not too flattering! Despite this rather unfavorable characterization of teenagers, Hall's comments were not all negative. Hall believed adolescence was the most critical period of life, and represented the initiation into adulthood. He argued that the adolescent years were "sacred," and that it was wise for parents and psychologists to allow these changes to take place without interference.
Now our views of adolescence are more balanced. We agree that many biological and cognitive changes take place, but now we know that these years are not as traumatic as was once believed, especially when we are well prepared for the transition. Adolescents are able to accept more responsibilities, think in more complex and abstract ways, and make plans for the future. Even though we know more now than when G. Stanley Hall was writing, we are still trying to learn as much as we can about the transition through adolescence. Our study on family and peer relationships through adolescence is part of the ongoing research in this field, and we hope that the information you provide will make this transition even smoother.
Adolescent Health: Depression
You go through a lot of changes during your high school years. Some of these changes may weigh heavily on your mind and you may feel extended periods of stress and strain. Occasional stress is completely normal and a little time for relaxation may be all you need. But how do you know when your feelings are more serious than normal everyday "blues"?
Depression is a common illness, which can be identified by such symptoms as long periods of sadness or irritability, withdrawal from activities and friends you used to enjoy, changes in your sleep patterns, low energy, feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness, changes in appetite, or recurrent thoughts about death or dying. Most people feel one or two of these symptoms when life gets tough, which is completely normal. But if these feelings persist for more than two weeks, you should go see your high school counselor, doctor, or another trusted adult right away. It may be difficult to seek help at first, but depression is a real illness that needs careful treatment, just like any other illness.
For more information about depression in teenagers, visit the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
Adolescent Development: Tips for a Healthy Life
Exercise can ward off the blues!
It's true! Exercise can decrease your stress-level and boost your self-esteem. How? It allows you to focus on other stuff when you're stressed out and also releases your muscle tension. This actually relaxes you and provides you with more energy at the same time! Exercise includes anything from playing sports to lifting weights to running or other aerobic activities. Either grab a friend or do it solo, but get outside, lift your mood, and combat stress!
Try drinking water or a sports drink!
Did you know that caffeine can actually increase your anxiety, cause headaches and make you jittery? It can also make you cranky and irritable with your friends or family. And if you're playing sports, drinking a lot of caffeine will dehydrate you faster and can make your muscles even more sore at the end of the workout! Unfortunately, the more caffeine you drink, the more you need to feel alert. So try reaching for water or a sports drink to keep you going.
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For more health facts for teens, check out TeensHealth!