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adolescent issues

     Adolescence is a time when our bodies, our families, our schools, and the larger society demand that we change. Although each life unfolds in its own unique pattern, there are a number issues that are similar to each teenage child. As teens develop increasingly complex knowledge systems, they also adopt an integrated set of values and morals. This is also period of significant transition between childhood and adulthood. It is a time that varies from culture to culture, and is a time when individuals learn to be socially responsible for themselves and for their actions (Bancroft & Reinisch, 1990). In American culture, adolescence covers a span of almost 10-years; from puberty to full biological maturation. Within this time frame youth are affected by various developmental transformations including physical, emotional, and social changes. With these changes come many responsibilities and privileges that are different from those of childhood or full adulthood, aspects that ultimately define the period of adolescence (Bancroft & Reinisch, 1990).

     The major task of adolescence is to become 'your own person'. Adolescents learn to make choices and commitments, follow through with them, and stand up independently in the world. They need to be respected for taking on these tasks.  After all, we respect adults who can do these things.  They are complicated and courageous actions. But teenagers swing back and forth between dependence and independence as they work on these tasks.  It's easy for parents to get frustrated.  And it's easy for a parent to assume that if the teenager would simply follow the plan that makes sense to a parent, things would be all right in the end.

Life is not so simple, of course -- not for teenagers and not for adults. In many ways, adults carry on the very same tasks of growth and development themselves -- after adolescence.  Adults, however, usually have a greater sense of who they are -- what they value, what they need, and how best to get what they need -- than do teenagers. False starts, poor judgment, or impulsive action are part of growing up.  And like teenagers, adults encounter these same challenges.  It's just that adults are usually better prepared to meet the challenges. The main tasks of adolescence require teenagers to learn, and this kind of learning is not just a matter of getting the

right answer.  Most important is to understand the meaning of the right answer.  And maybe "the right answer" is something that teenagers need to build up, responsibly, from lessons of experience.  This is truly difficult work and it    absolutely requires support from parents, relatives, and the community.

   Below are general development stages of teens:

Physical Changes 

     Adolescents experience rapid rates of growth and maturation of the reproductive organs and glands. Together, these physical changes accomplish the biological task of transforming a child into an adult. Rapid change combined with wide variation among individuals tend to make adolescents extremely sensitive to their appearance. At no other time in life are feelings about the self (self-esteem) so closely tied to feelings about the body (body image). These physical changes also affect their social relations and emotions. That is why a pimple or being ahead or behind a classmate in physical growth can be so stressful to the teens' emotions.

Mental Changes

     Teens develop their abstract thinking capacities. Before age 11 or 12 children think in terms of concrete objects and groups of objects. By age 16 most adolescents have gone from the simple way of thinking to complex forms of reasoning. They learn to approach a problem systematically. Moral issues become more complex because they understand that two sound rules or principles might conflict. For example: They will understand that in certain situations the values of friendship and honesty conflict. They will struggle with a question about whether someone should report a friend for breaking a rule.

     Teens also come to realize that what exists is only one of many possibilities. This is important in facing many choices as they move into adulthood and choose career directions, educational paths and life relationships. Thus, teens need time alone to think about the many possibilities.

Social Changes

     Because of their physical and mental growth, adolescents are no longer treated like children. The expectations adults and peers have of them change and their behavior changes. Thus the social world in which they live changes in important ways.

One of the most obvious social changes is the beginning of serious interest in and romantic interactions with other teens. They have to learn to handle the emotions and behavior that go along with these relationships. They also experience a change in how adults treat them and talk to them. It is often in a more adult manner. They are also seeking more independence. They are given more privileges that were reserved for adults like driving and working. However, they may feel they should have even more privileges and these may become areas of conflict for parents and teens. Parents may feel frustrated with the perception that teens want more freedom but not the responsibility that comes with it.

These changes lead to typical traits of teenagers. Some of these are:

Concern with being popular. The teen is trying to find out how worthwhile he/she is in the eyes of peers. Having friends means that he has been accepted. Teens spend more time with peers because they have similar tastes in music, dress, activities, dreams, and goals. Challenging the way things are. Teens will challenge the rules and reason of parents, teachers, and the world. This is part of their intellectual growth and trying out new ideas and possibilities. Express concern about how they look. They feel that everyone is looking at them. They are concerned with their physical and hormonal changes. Are they fitting in with their classmates? They now can imagine what other people may be thinking so teens feel as if they are living in a display store window and everyone is watching them. Having friends you may not approve of. They are exploring new relationships and ideas these friends may have.

Influenced by peers. Teens will look to their peers for norms in dress, drugs, alcohol, and sexual behaviors. However, research shows that teens are strongly influenced by their parents in moral issues.

Belonging is very important. Having friends during early adolescent years is valuable as children are trying to develop acceptable social skills. They are relating to other teens in different ways than when they were younger.

Need privacy. Teens need time to think as their intellectual capacities increase and they are faced with new ideas and challenges. The changes they are undergoing physically often lead them to a need for privacy.

Moodiness. With the rapid changes going on in physical, social, and intellectual growth, they may be concerned with how they are doing. Their hormonal changes are a great factor.

     During adolescence teens experience rapid physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development. Problems may arise because parents do not change their parenting style. Treating a teen as a young child - not taking into account his/her intellectual growth and ability to think through a situation in a way that was not previously possible can belittle the teen and cause conflict. He or she is also seeking more independence. Instead of mandating rules, including the teen in discussion of some rules can help them in learning to work through problems and arrive at solutions that may involve compromise. Remembering all the changes teens are going through and following these steps can improve the parent-teen relationship.

References

Adolescents, Stephen F. Hamilton, Dept. of Human Development and Family Studies, Cornell University, Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Gateway - Parenting into the Teen Years, Issue 4, Illinois Cooperative Extension Service.

Changing parenting StyleCProgram, James Van Horn, Ph.D., CFLE, Professor of Rural Sociology, Penn State University.

Behavior Management Cards, Ohio State University Extension.

Contact: Coach Randy 19 Stone Drive West Orange , NJ 07052 Phone: 973-736-6558