Adolescent Development

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Adolescent Development
Developed by the Center for School Mental Health
(http//csmh.umaryland.edu) in collaboration
with the Maryland School Mental Health Alliance
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Introduction

• Adolescents make up approximately 36-40 million
  people in the US (13.9) ¹
• The term adolescence comes from the Latin verb
  adolescere, which means to go into adulthood.
• Transition between childhood and adulthood
• From about the ages of 11-19
• Adolescence is a period of rapid physical,
  cognitive,
• sexual, social and emotional changes.
• It is an adjustment period for the adolescent,
• their parents, and those who are in
• frequent contact with them.

Physical
Sexual
Cognitive
Emotional
Social
¹ http//nahic.ucsf.edu//downloads/Demographics.pd
f
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Simple Facts

• Highlights ²
• The U.S. adolescent population is rapidly
  growing.
• The adolescent population is more
  racially/ethnically diverse than
• the general population.
• The Hispanic and Asian populations are expected
  to increase 10
• by the year 2025
• Black and Hispanic youth experience poverty at a
  higher rate than
• their peers

² http//nahic.ucsf.edu//downloads/Demographics.pd
f
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More Facts

• More adolescents live in suburbs than in rural
  areas and central cities.
• Two thirds of adolescents ages 12-17 live with
  both parents.
• Marylands Grade 8 Reading level is slightly
  higher than the national average.
  http//nces.ed.gov/programs/stateprofiles/sresult.
  asp?modeshorts124
• Between 200102 and 201314, the number of high
  school graduates is projected to increase
  nationally by 10 percent. The state of Maryland
  is projected to have a 6.6 increase. Institute
  of Educational Services

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Important Statistics

• Young Americans between the ages of 13 and 24 are
  still contracting HIV at the rate of 2 per hour.
  Office of Natural AIDS Policy
• Every year 3 million teens--about 1 in 4 sexually
  active teens -- get a sexually transmitted
  disease (STD).
• American Social Health Administration
• One-third of all smokers had their first
  cigarette by the age of 14.  Ninety percent of
  all smokers begin before the age of 21. American
  Lung Association
• Individuals who begin drinking before the age of
  15 are four times more likely to become alcohol
  dependent than those who begin drinking at age
  21. The National Center on Addiction and
  Substance Abuse at Columbia University
• Suicide is the third leading cause of death among
  youths ages 15 to 20. National Center for Health
  Statistics

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http//www.sadd.org/stats.htm
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What is normal difficult behavior?
Developmental Goal during Adolescence The child
develops self identity and the capacity for
intimacy.

• Normal Difficult Behavior
• Moodiness
• Less affection shown to parents
• Greatly influenced by peers
• Preoccupation with sex
• Masturbation
• Very occasional experimentation with cigarettes
  or alcohol
• Extremely self-involved
• Self- conscious
• Involvement with cliques

• Cries for Help
• Regular use of alcohol and/or other drugs
• Sexual promiscuity
• Lying or stealing
• Destructive or delinquent behavior
• Poor school behavior
• Persistent Negative attitude
• Frequent temper outbursts
• Extreme fear of leaving home
• Self- Mutilation
• Suicidal ideas or suicide attempt

http//www.health-ed-consultants.org/core.htm
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What can we do?

• Knowledge about what changes and behaviors during
  adolescence are normal can go a long way in
  helping both teens and adults manage the
  transition successfully
• Dont criticize or compare teens to others
• Encourage them to get enough sleep
• Model and encourage healthy eating habits and
  physical activities
• Be understanding about their needs for space and
  privacy
• Provide honest and accurate information about sex
• Be patient of excessive time spent grooming

http//www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/family/350-850/350-850.
html
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Ten Tips for Parents

• Educate yourself about adolescent development.
• Talk to your children about the changes that they
  will experience during this time.
• Create an atmosphere of respect, trust and
  honesty.
• Put your self in your childs place. Sharing your
  experiences as a teen may help your child.
• Pick your battles. Ask yourself, Is this battle
  worth fighting?

Adapted from Kid Smart PACE (Parenting and
Consumer Education) Retrieved November 2, 2006
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Ten Tips for Parents

1. Maintain your level of expectations for your
   teen. Dont write off negative behavior with
   Hes just a teen
2. Know your teens friends and keep track of their
   activities.
3. Know the warning signs when risky behavior
   becomes dangerous behavior.
4. Respect your teens privacy. You have a right to
   know what is going on with your teen but give
   him/her a little space.
5. Set boundaries and make rules that are
   appropriate.

Adapted from Kid Smart PACE (Parenting and
Consumer Education) Retrieved November 2, 2006
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Adolescent Development
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Physical Development

• Onset of puberty begins the physical development
  of children
• Puberty should take 3-6 years to complete
• Growth Spurt
• Secondary sex characteristics develop
• Menstruation and hormonal changes
• Teens may sleep more
• Exercise to reinforce learning

http//www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/family/350-850/350-850.
htm l
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Cognitive Development

• Adolescence appears to begin with a series of
  changes in cognitive ability
• Thinking and reasoning
• Developing abstract thinking skills.
• Systematic searching for solutions

http//www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/family/350-850/350-850.
html
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Cognitive Development

• Ability to reason about hypothetical problems
• Intellectual interests expand and gain in
  importance
• Developing the ability to think about thinking in
  a process known as "meta-cognition
• Think about how they feel and what they are
  thinking

http//www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/family/350-850/350-850.
html
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Social Development

• Greater autonomy and less dependence on parents.
• Need increased age-appropriate independence and
  freedom
• Parental support is still necessary
• Relationship with parents changes in three ways
• 1. As cognitive ability increases, their
  perceptions of parents change. Now, view them as
  individuals as well as parents
• 2. Less time is spent with parents and families
• 3. More conflict with parents

http//www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/family/350-850/350-850.
html
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Social Development

• More intimate relationships with peers
• As less time is spent with family, peers become
  important during this time
• Beginnings of establishing an identity
• Reason in adult terms about moral issues and
  values

http//www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/family/350-850/350-850.
html
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Central tasks in psychosocial development of the
adolescent

• Autonomy from parents and family
• Variations in parental behavior is necessary
  (value autonomy and disciplined will)
• Establishing satisfying peer relationships and
  friendships. Learning intimacy.
• Relationships with peers serve as prototypes for
  adult relationships
• Peers provide emotional support

CSMH-MSMHA 2006
http//www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/family/350-850/350-850.
html
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Psychosocial development

• Develop an identity
• Separate, distinct individual
• Consistency between ones own and other peoples
  perceptions of ones identity.
• Develop skills at moral reasoning
• Question social and political beliefs of adults
• Personal values and opinions become less absolute
• Political thought is less authoritarian

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Movement towards Independence
Middle School to Early High School Years

• Struggle with sense of identity
• Feeling awkward or strange about ones self and
  ones body
• Focus on self, alternating between high
  expectations and poor self-esteem
• Interests and clothing style influenced by peers
• Moodiness
• Improved ability to express ones self
• Identification of parents faults
• Less overt affections shown to parents
• Complaints of parental interference
• Tendency to return to childish behavior

www.aacap.org Facts for families- Normal
Adolescent Behavior
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Sexuality
Middle School to Early High School Years

• Displays shyness, blushing and modesty
• Girls develop physically sooner than boys
• Increased interest in sex
• Movement towards heterosexuality with fears of
  homosexuality
• Concerns regarding physical and sexual
  attractiveness to others
• Frequently changing relationships

www.aacap.org Facts for families- Normal
Adolescent Behavior
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Morals, Values, and Self Direction
Middle School to Early High School Years

• Rule and limit testing
• Capacity for abstract thought
• Development of ideals and selection of role
  models
• More consistent evidence of conscience
• Experimentation with sex and drugs

www.aacap.org Facts for families- Normal
Adolescent Behavior
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Movement towards Independence
Late high school years and beyond

• Increased independent functioning
• Firmer and more cohesive sense of identity
• Examination of inner experiences
• Ability to think ideas through
• Conflict with parents begins to decrease
• Increased ability for delayed gratification and
  compromise
• Increased emotional stability
• Increased concerns for others
• Increased self reliance
• Peer relationships remain important and take an
  appropriate place among other interests

www.aacap.org Facts for families- Normal
Adolescent Behavior
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Sexuality
Late high school years and beyond

• Feelings of love and passion
• Development of more serious relationships
• Firmer sense of sexual identity
• Increased capacity for tender and sensual love

www.aacap.org Facts for families- Normal
Adolescent Behavior
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Morals, Values, and Self Direction
Late high school years and beyond

• Greater capacity for setting goals
• Interest in moral reasoning
• Capacity to use insight
• Increased emphasis on personal dignity and
  self-esteem
• Social and cultural traditions regain some of
  their previous importance

www.aacap.org Facts for families- Normal
Adolescent Behavior
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Risk Taking

• All teens take risks as a normal part of growing
  up. It is a tool to define and develop an
  identity. Healthy risk taking is a valuable
  experience.
• Healthy adolescent risk-taking behaviors have a
  positive impact on an adolescent's development
  and can include participation is sports, the
  development of artistic and creative abilities,
  travel, running for school office and others..
• Unhealthy risk-taking may appear to be a
  rebellion. This is normal for this age group.
• Red flags are persistent psychological problems,
  trouble at school, engaging in illegal activities
  and excessive unhealthy risk taking.

Ponton, L. (1997). The Romance of Risk Why
Teenagers Do the Things they do. Basic Books
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Risk Taking
Healthy risk-taking is a positive tool in an
adolescent's life for discovering, his or her
identity.

• Healthy Alternatives
• Physical activities such as sports
• Extreme outdoor activities with appropriate
  guidance (white water rafting, rock climbing..)
• Creative arts, developing hobbies
• Open communication, talking about sex
• Volunteering, participating in student exchange
  program, seeking out new friends
• Part-time job, involvement in community activities

• Unhealthy Risk Taking
• Dangerous dieting and eating disorders
• Using drugs and alcohol
• Running away, staying out all night
• Unprotected sexual activity
• Gang violence, weapons, bullying, or scapegoating
  
• Stealing, shoplifting

http//www.middleweb.com/adolesrisk.htmlanchor192
30099
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References

• National Adolescent Health Information Center.
  (2003). Fact Sheet on Demographics
  Adolescents.San Francisco, CA Author, University
• of California, San Francisco.
• http//nahic.ucsf.edu//downloads/Demographics.pdf
• Ponton, L. (1997). The Romance of Risk Why
  Teenagers Do the Things they do. Basic Books
• http//www.middleweb.com/adolesrisk.htmlanchor192
  30099
• Facts for families- Normal Adolescent Development
  III
• www.aacap.org
• http//www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/family/350-850/350-850.
  html
• www.childtrendsdatabank.org
• http//fcs.tennessee.edu/humandev/kidsmart/parenti
  ngAdolescents.pdf
• http//www.health-ed-consultants.org/core.htm

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• Developed by the Center for School Mental Health
  (http//csmh.umaryland.edu)
• in collaboration with
• the Maryland School Mental Health Alliance