The Most Stressful Life Stage: Exploring Adolescence

Adolescence is the transitional period in human development between childhood and adulthood. It is also described as a period of rapid growth, where a person undergoes major changes in the physical, psychological and social domains. It is also important for the development of identity, as adolescents are stepping away from childhood security and moving into adult autonomy. Adolescence as one of the most stressful periods of life is explored in this essay. Here we touch on the topic of adolescent development and why it is the most stressful period in human development. 

Adolescence mostly begins with the onset of the pubertal process. Puberty typically includes a combination of growth spurt, biological maturity and development of secondary sex characteristics. For girls, their hips will broaden, breasts develop and menstruation begins. For boys, their muscles enlarge, voice becomes deeper and are able to produce sperm. These transformations begin at the early adolescence and will continue to the middle adolescent stage. At this stage, adolescents have already acquired physical attributes of adulthood but are still less emotionally and cognitively developed as an adult. They are in the process of creating an identity for themselves and understanding their bodies which are changing beyond their control. They become very self-conscious of their body image and the accompanying problems such as weight gain, acne, menstrual cramps and sleeping habits. Adolescents with poor body image may become socially isolated as they assume that do not belong as part of the community. Prolonged thoughts about poor body image can adversely affect a person's daily life and lead to mental health issues such as depression or anxiety, or in extreme cases, eating disorders  Today, social media exacerbate the situation as adolescents will seek validation from their friends through their “likes”and comments for their photos and postings. With their bodies developing, adolescents will find themselves exploring and experimenting sexual activities. Early sexual activity is linked with risky behaviors such as drug use, delinquency, truancy and pregnancy. In this case, biological development does not equate to emotional maturity, which could lead to greater interpersonal conflict, mood disruption, and an increased tendency to take risks as adolescents grow.

Cognitive development in adolescence is identified with Piaget’s last intellectual stage, the formal operations. This period of development generally begins at around age 11 or 12. At this stage, the adolescent is capable of abstract thinking as compared to childhood stage where the child could use only concrete thinking or operations. In the early stage, adolescents develop their minds by seeking knowledge and manage difficulties within themselves. They relate the situation they are going through to their knowledge and experience in helping to solve various problems. They tend to seek assistance less frequently than any other age group. One study has shown that half of all adolescents with depressive symptoms cited confidentiality concerns as their reasons for not seeking help. They are afraid of being misunderstood by their parents, and their self-worth being questioned. Research has shown that self-esteem for adolescence is at the lowest for those aged 11-14 years old. While most emerge from the stage with the same level of self-esteem as when they started, those who do not will interpret failures as major setbacks.

The transition into adolescence stage is not only stressful for the adolescent, but for the family as well. Parents and adolescents often struggle over control and independence Parents will want to have full control of their teenagers, from what subjects they study to their peer group and daily schedules while the adolescents will consistently push for autonomy. Conflicts between adolescent and parent occur weekly, double the frequency for a married couple. While conflicts can be strenuous, it may serve a function whereby the adolescents come to terms with the parents’ misjudgement, and learn to detach their dependence. With the conflicts at home heightened, adolescents begin to spend more time with their group of friends. As a result, friends can influence a child's thinking and behavior. This is the essence of peer pressure. Peer pressure can be a positive influence—for example, when it motivates your child to do well in school, or to become involved in sports or other activities. On the other hand, peer pressure can be a negative influence—for example, when it prompts your child to try smoking, drinking, using drugs, or to practice unsafe sex or other risky behaviors.

In conclusion, adolescence is the hardest stage for one’s life. There are too many drastic life changes like physical, psychological and behavioral changes going on in one’s life. It is easy for adolescents to get lost on their way in searching for the adult world by making mistakes. However, these changes are essential parts for teenagers’ maturity. Hence, the family members and teachers should play the most important role to help adolescents. They should help teenagers understand their values in the society and trust their determination and respect their choices.