Humanities and Social Science Strand

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
S.Y. 2020-2021

UNIT 1, LESSON 4
CHALLENGES OF MIDDLE AND LATE ADOLESCENCE
One can say that in every stage of development, we encounter challenges. However, still,
being an adolescent is a heavy task to take. This is the part of our lives when individuals
experience many changes that one has to undertake. This lesson aims to let individuals
understand and accept the challenges that they encounter.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
In this lesson, you are expected to:
a. Discuss that facing challenges during adolescence may help clarify and manage the
demands of teen years;
b. Express his or her feelings on the expectations of the significant people around him or her
(parents, siblings, friends, teachers, community leaders); and
c. Make affirmations that help one become more lovable and capable as an adolescent.

KEY CONCEPTS

The Stressors and Challenges of Being an Adolescent

Adolescence is a time of turbulence when it comes to physical and psychological

changes. Several factors like the development of technology, globalization, and social media
have changed how adolescents confront their daily stressors and challenges. The following are
the challenges that adolescents commonly face:

Physical Challenges

 Health and Nutrition. Common problem such as lack of sleep and poor eating habits
must be taken note of. Avoiding unhealthy food items laden with bad oils and fat can
diminish issues with health (Santos, 2016).
 Mood changes caused by hormonal changes. With biological changes that comes with
being an adolescent, hormonal changes that affects one’s mood are inevitable.
Adolescents tend to be more emotional, impulsive, and sensitive as these changes
happen.

Cognitive Challenges
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UNIT 1, LESSON 4 –CHALLENGES OF MIDDLE AND LATE ADOLESCENCE
 Humanities and Social Science Strand
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
S.Y. 2020-2021

 Need for higher cognitive ability or decision-making. Logical, rational, and abstract
thinking strategies are expected of adolescence as they enter the formal operational level
according to Jean Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development. During this time, they are
expected to understand the basics of understanding the cause and effects of problems.

Psychosocial Challenges

Family Challenges
 Shifting relationships with parents. The once dependent and submissive child start to
grow up by showing characteristics and traits that their parents are not yet ready to
handle. During this time, adolescents become closer to friends, than their parents,
resulting in conflict, arguments, and stress.
 Parents Working Abroad. Adolescents who have parents working abroad experience
the prolonged absence of their parent which may bring about negative emotions such as
anger and resentment to their parents which might affect their behavior if not properly
guided – engaging in rebellious act, overdependence with friends, etc (Santos, 2016).

Social Relationship Challenges

 Relationships. Being in a relationship requires a certain level of maturity. As an
adolescent, individuals experience different types of relationships. When it comes to
parental relationships, one desires more autonomy and independence against parental
objections. Among friends, adolescents become more relaxed, they become more
comfortable with their relationship with friends than with their parents. On the other
hand, romantic relationships are equally challenging to an adolescent, because during this
time, emotions are not yet fully developed (Santos, 2016).
 Attitudes and behavior towards sexual relationships. Once an adolescent commit in a
relationship or have a concept of what a relationship is. They gain attitudes and behaviors
over relationships such as public display of affection, lust, etc.
 Accountabilities brought about by expectations. When individuals reach adolescence,
expectations also rise up to the occasion. Critical thinking skills and reasoning skills are
necessary and expected as they face challenges and situations in real life.
 Group belongingness. One must consider how group of friends push an individual to
peer pressure. One must always remember that true friends will respect you and will not
lure you to do something that is against your beliefs or values. True friends, however,
will correct you (Santos, 2016).

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UNIT 1, LESSON 4 –CHALLENGES OF MIDDLE AND LATE ADOLESCENCE
 Humanities and Social Science Strand
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
S.Y. 2020-2021
Gender and Identity Challenges

 Values and Beliefs. As an adolescent,

questions about faith and humanity arises.
They begin to identify what values and
beliefs they possess (Santos, 2016).
 Developing or Regaining Self-Esteem.
Most of the time, they focus more on the
negatives rather than the positive. One may
dwell more on one’s fault by being too self-
critical which then affect one’s self-esteem
(Santos, 2016).
 Managing one’s sexuality. During
adolescence, one’s sexuality unfolds as it
also starts the onset of puberty. Physical
changes happen within one’s body. During
this time, an individual reiterates his or her
Figure 1 Formation of Identity among Adolescents is vital. sexual preference according to cultural and
(https://webstockreview.net/images/teen-clipart-
adolescent-1.jpg) communal expectations (Salting-Sadsad,
2016).
 Formation of Identity and Roles. One of the crises that an adolescent need to resolve is
identity versus role confusion. During this time, the journey of self-discovery starts as
they continuously adjust and learn through experience. Adolescents begin to understand
what they want in the future which leads to establishing self-concept and a higher degree
of self-esteem.

Career and Vocational Challenges

 Academic concerns. Academic concerns such as one’s learning difficulties, confusion or

misunderstanding topics of study and disinterest in the topic are the most common.
However, behavioral concerns in school are also related to it that it might affect one’s
academic performance. Issues such as bullying in school, lack of proper attention,
financial concerns, procrastination and time management also affect one’s academic
performance (goodtherapy.org, 2017).
 Career decision-making and Work. Another cause of confusion that most adolescents
face is choosing their career. When finding the right career, one must need to know what
their interests are, what things they find exciting and interesting, and what skills they
have (Santos, 2016).

Other Challenges
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UNIT 1, LESSON 4 –CHALLENGES OF MIDDLE AND LATE ADOLESCENCE
 Humanities and Social Science Strand
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
S.Y. 2020-2021

 Material Poverty. There are adolescents who face challenges because they could not go
to school because of financial concerns. Basic needs such as food and transportation are
given more emphasis by families that could not end meets.

LEARNING RESOURCES
In this part, list of learning resources that you can access are provided depending on the
topic that you are interested on. You shall open your web browser and click on the link of the
following resources. Guide questions are provided for you to effectively understand the
concepts given:

 Challenges of Adolescence. This article discusses in-depth other challenges that an

adolescent might experience.
(https://www.counsellingconnection.com/index.php/2010/02/11/biological-cognitive-
and-psychological-challenges-of-adolescence/)
 Adolescence: A unique period of challenge and opportunity for positive development.
This article suggests how the challenges can be brought about to provide positive
development for the adolescent.

GUIDE QUESTIONS
Directions: Upon reading the study guide and learning resources, answer these guide questions
and reflect on your own experiences during adolescence.

(1) What are the physical challenges that you experienced or is still experiencing as an adolescent?
(2) How are your cognitive challenges related to your psychosocial challenges? Cite an example.
(3) What are the most common psychosocial challenges that adolescence experience? Why do you
think so?
(4) How can you develop these challenges to positive development for your traits and
characteristics?
(5) How important it is to decide on your career as an adolescent? Why?

LEARNING TASKS
ASYNCHRONOUS ACTIVITY: Short Film Analysis

Directions: Watch the short film that illustrates one of the challenges of adolescence:
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UNIT 1, LESSON 4 –CHALLENGES OF MIDDLE AND LATE ADOLESCENCE
 Humanities and Social Science Strand
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
S.Y. 2020-2021

Identity SHORT FILM (Award Winning Inspirational Short): https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=ikGVWEvUzNM

After watching the short film, answer the CANVAS discussion, containing the following
questions:

 What is the conflict in the short film?

 How was the conflict resolved?
 What are the challenges that you encountered finding an identity?
 After watching the short film, what realization din you have in dealing with or resolving
those challenges?

REFERENCES:
Camilar-Serrano. (2016). Personal Development. Manila: United Books Library Services &
Publishing Inc.
Goodtherapy.org (2015). Academic Concerns. Retrieved from:
https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/issues/academic-concerns
Magalona, E., & Salting-Sadsad, E. (2016). Personal Development: Theory & Practice. Manila:
Mindshapers Co., Inc.
Santos, R. R. (2016). Personal Development. Quezon City: Rex Book Store, Inc.

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