Adolescent developmental changes vary from one individual to another. Some of the developmental changes may affect adolescents’ behavior in the way they think, reason, and perceive things, leading to inappropriate behavior with their parents or guardians. Adolescents’ transition to adulthood can be difficult, but pediatricians’ support can make a significant impact. This development is marked by social, psychosocial, and cognitive development.
Cognitive development can affect three areas (Retana, 2013). To begin with, the ability to reason in adolescents becomes more developed. They begin to think hypothetically and take in a varied range of possibilities in a particular situation. Again, they develop the ability to abstract thinking. The transition from thinking concretely to abstractly: from people who think of things they have direct contact with people who think of imaginary things (Retana 2013). This change makes them develop the ability to love and think about spiritual things. Those who do not transition from concrete to abstract thinking only deal with real stuff during problem-solving and face difficulties when handling classwork.
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The trait of abstract thinking may make one develop an imaginary audience based on the fact that the audience looks to particular adolescents (Clarice 2014). Several scholarly articles support that adolescents can perceive risks more than adults. However, this does not prevent them from participating in risky behaviors. Some studies suggest that adolescents feel more satisfied when they engage in risky behavior (Retana, 2013). The urge for this satisfaction can lure adolescents to risky behaviors despite being aware of the resulting risks.
Adolescents that do not transition to abstract thinking may face difficulties of not realizing the magnitudes of action or even the health effect of some activities such as smoking or overeating (Hindly 2020). On the other hand, those who transition to abstract thinking develop the imaginary audience, leading to stress and depression. The thinking transition gives adolescents the ability of metacognition (Hindly 2020). This is a characteristic that enables them to think about how they feel and how their peers and those around them perceive them (Sharon 2020). In combination with both emotional and physical changes that occur during this time, the adolescents think that everyone is thinking about what they are thinking and about them. The effect of the imaginary audience is negative when offering medical services. This is because it may lead to some adolescents hiding their medical conditions in fear of their peers.
Psychosocial changes are characterized by one’s ability to make their own decisions, having an identity and orientation (Retana 2013). Autonomy is usually seen in the early phases of adolescence that occur between twelve to fourteen years (Retana 2013). It is generally characterized by the adolescent’s fighting for economic and emotional independence. The teenagers begin to form peer groups of the same sex and have decreased interest in parental advice and family activities (Clarice 2014). Their main concern during this time is how they look to the other peers.
Those adolescents that do not associate themselves with other peers undergo psychological hitches during this time (Sharon 2020). As time goes by, the adolescents’ interest shifts from focusing on themselves to having larger peers. It is the role of medical experts dealing with adolescents to advise their parents on family roles and duty changes.
In the course of the mid-puberty period, between fifteen to seventeen years, the adolescents begin to have peer groups of mixed sex (Clarice 2014). They begin to exercise social roles for adolescence and begin to have short passionate love relationships in an attempt to search for the partner of their dream (Retana 2013). Parental disputes are usually at their peak during this time as adolescents seek independence. As they approach late adolescence, the adolescents have developed full autonomy from their parents between eighteen and twenty-one years. Most of them withdraw from their peer groups and begin to work on their adulthood (Retana 2013). They become responsible and begin to have more stable relationships. They also develop a sense of identity, self-proclamation, and self-esteem.
Social development makes adolescents become emotionally and socially competent (Sharon, 2020). This guides the adolescents on how to relate with others and to manage their own emotions. They begin to consider their feelings and those of others. The pubertal development rate may affect the physical image and social presentation where boys and girls who mature faster are alleged to be more responsible and mature (Retana 2013). They are thought to perform better in sports activities, and they become popular faster and are usually thought to be leaders.
Despite the advantages of early maturation, studies have shown that early matures are more predisposed to stress and depression than the late matures (Hindly 2020). An essential aspect of adolescent development in the management of emotions. Some studies have shown that high testosterone hormone levels can lead to swelling of the amygdala, a part of the brain responsible for controlling emotions (Hindly 2020).
The role of pediatricians in educating both parents and adolescents on adolescents’ developmental changes may be of great help when dealing with puberty expectations. Provision of appropriate education to the youth can help them gain independence and find out who they are. Parents should also continue to offer support and advisory guidance to ensure that adolescents remain safe.
References
Clarice A T. (2014). Cognitive development of adolescents. Adolescence. https://www.slideshare.net
Hindly C B. (2020). Psychological Changes in Adolescence Related to Physical Changes. Development in adolescence. https://link.springer.com
Retana A S. (2013). Adolescent Psychosocial, Social and Cognitive Development. Pediatrics in Review. https://doi.org/10.1542/pir.34-8-354
Sharon L. (2020). Overview of Psychosocial Problems in Adolescence. Health Topics and Chapters. https://www.msdmanuals.com
