The Challenges of Middle and Late Adolescene

THE PASSAGE TO ADULTHOOD: CHALLENGES OF LATE ADOLESCENCE

Physical Development

 Most girls have completed the physical changes related to puberty by age 15.
 Boys are still maturing and gaining strength, muscle mass, and height and are completing the
development of sexual traits.
Emotional Development

 May stress over school and test scores.

 Is self-involved (may have high expectations and low self-concept).
 Seeks privacy and time alone.
 Is concerned about physical and sexual attractiveness.
 May complain that parents prevent him or her from doing things independently.
 Starts to want both physical and emotional intimacy in relationships.
 The experience of intimate partnerships
Social Development

 shifts in relationship with parents from dependency and subordination to one

 that reflects the adolescent’s increasing maturity and responsibilities in the
 family and the community,
 Is more and more aware of social behaviors of friends.
 Seeks friends that share the same beliefs, values, and interests.
 Friends become more important.
 Starts to have more intellectual interests.
 Explores romantic and sexual behaviors with others.
  May be influenced by peers to try risky behaviors (alcohol, tobacco, sex).
Mental Development

 Becomes better able to set goals and think in terms of the future.
 Has a better understanding of complex problems and issues.
 Starts to develop moral ideals and to select role models.

Middle Adolescene – Ages 14 to 17. Most males will have started their growth spurt, and puberty-related
changes continue. They may have some voice cracking, for example, as their voices lower. Some develop acne.
Physical changes may be nearly complete for females, and most girls now have regular periods.
Late Adolescents (18-21.. and beyond!) – generally have completed physical development and grown to their
full adult height.
Coping with Stress in Middle and Late Adolescence
STRESS MANAGEMENT/STRESS RESPONSE
Stress can be defined as a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation. Stress is
natural to human response that prompts us to address challenges and threats in our lives.
A practical way of defining stress is the feeling one gets from prolonged, pent-up emotions. If the emotions you
experience are pleasant and desirable – joy, elation, ecstasy, delight – you usually feel free to let them show.
They are not suppressed. Therefore; positive emotions do not usually cause stress. Negative emotions, on the
other hand, are more often held inside. They are hidden. You suffer quietly and you experience stress. Do not
confuse positive situations with positive emotions. A wedding, for example, is a positive situation that often
brings about the negative emotions of anxiety and tension. So stress can exist in great situations.

Causes and Effects of Stress

Just as there is great variety in the range of emotions you might experience, there are many possible
manifestations of stress – in your private life and in your working life. Here are some words that describe the
emotions associated (as cause and effect) with stress.
 Anxiety
 Pressure
 Misery
 Strain
 Desperation
 Tension
 Anger
 Panic
 Dejection

Prolonged stress can be devastating; burnout, breakdown, and depression are some of the potential
results of long-term, unmanaged stress. By wearing a mask, you may expect to hide stress caused by problems
in your personal life and not let them influence your performance on the job. This will probably not work. The
more you try to hold your emotions in, the greater the pressure build-up will be.

The system that is comprised of hormones that regulate physiological functions is called Endocrine system.
Stress Management- Goal is not to eliminate all stress and to limit the harmful effects of stress while
maintaining life’s quality and vitality.
We can better manage our time by prioritizing our responsibilities.

Walter Canon-According to him stress reaction is fight-or-flight. Changes in bodies physiology. Increase heart
rate, respiration, blood pressure, and serum cholesterol.
Stressor- something with the potential to cause a stress reaction.

5 Different Types of Stressors

1. Eustress- Stressing for good reasons (Planning a wedding)
2. Neutress- Its there, but its doesn’t bother you. (like bad weather)
3. Distress – Bad stress.(family issues, death, fighting, etc.)
4. Acute- Short-lived stress. (but intense)
5. Chronic Stress- Longer duration but nowhere near as intense.

Females- . “Tend and befriend”. Use of social interactions to provide physical and psychological protection.
Promotes safety and diminishes distress.
Males- “Fight or flight”. Testosterone-fighting.

Technostress is the constant exposure technology, and not having free time because of it. It prevents people
from relaxing their mind. An example of this, answering emails on vacation.