Adolescence is the intermediary stage of growth between childhood and adulthood. It represents the period of time during which a person is subjected to an array of biological transformations and runs into a number of emotional tribulations. The ages, which are termed to be part of adolescence, vary by ethnicity and extend from the preteens to nineteen years. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), adolescence encompasses the epoch of life between 10 and 20 years of age. Adolescence is an especially unstable as well as a vibrant period of any person?s life.
Adolescent psychology deals with the issues related with adolescence. Numerous psychologists all over the world now recognize this as a distinct phenomenon. This has led to the establishment of a separate class of specialized psychologists to deal with the issues of the adolescence. The American Psychological Association has a special segment to assist them.
Psychological issues of adolescents may include maturity in body, which leads to a curiosity about sexual activities, sometimes leading to teenage pregnancy. Apart from that, there is a tendency to experiment with drug and alcohol use.
In some cases, cerebral problems such as schizophrenia, eating disorders, and depression may also arise during adolescence. The emotional insecurity among some adolescents may also tend to cause instances of crime among youth. It is often seen that searching for a distinctive identity is one of the problems that adolescents face. It is also common for individuals to express their desire to be more like their role models such as athletes, rock or pop stars, and film and television performers.
Relationship with peers plays an important role in analyzing adolescent psychology. It is seen that 90% of adolescents associate themselves with a peer group. Adolescents receiving support from their peers are less probable to fall into depression or face anxiety. It is also seen that depressed individuals find it difficult to make friends. The nature of an adolescent?s behavior is greatly influenced by his friends and companions. Adolescent psychology has gained prime importance in the recent past due to increased cases being reported about adolescent depression and anxiety.