Even though each teenager is different, there are certain developmental issues that all adolescents face. The following are normal feelings and behaviors of middle school and early high school adolescents which can help parents better understand the phases of adolescent development. Even though the developmental stage of adolescence has not dramatically changed over the past twenty years, today's adolescents are living in an environment that is more complex and contains a greater amount of negative influences. Today, with high divorce rates, more households with both parents working, and the growth of single-parent families, more than half of all American children will spend at least part of their childhood or adolescence living with only one parent. Compared to a few decades ago, today's kids are spending less time with adults and spending more time in front of the television and with peers.
Many adolescents are depressed.
About a third of adolescents report they have contemplated suicide. Find ways of being useful to others. Enhancing youths' sense of personal responsibility Encourage adolescents to contribute and participate in community activities. By encouraging adolescents to recognize the consequences of their actions with the context of long-term goals, youth can better take control of their own futures. Building a sense of accomplishment Adolescents struggle with their sense of self-worth and their peers' opinions of them.