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Supporting young people’s successful transition to adulthood requires a clear understanding of the predictable stages of development. While every young person is an individual, with their own unique background, abilities, personal characteristics, life events and context, there are major developmental events that are common across young people and likely to occur in the transition from childhood to adulthood. The following is intended to provide practical, useable information about youth developmental milestones that can help identify the supports youth may need as they develop.
Youth development occurs uniquely for each individual
While there are a number of developmental events that are
common to today’s youth, development is also affected by
a multitude of individual factors. Some individuals will reach
milestones at an early age, while others may take more time
or might not reach certain milestones at all.
This resource outlines the progression of movement along developmental trajectories that are common for the majority of young people. It aims to help foster a common understanding of youth development and to cultivate interactions with young people that are positive and productive.
The developmental maps are not a "schedule" of development that follows a rigid timeline, nor do they represent the developmental trajectory of any individual youth.
From straight lines to circles
The developmental events presented in this section of the
resource are packaged neatly into specific domains and
age-specific segments to make the resource practical and
easier to use. In reality, human growth is much more complex.
The interrelated and interdependent nature of human development can be considered as a circle (Figure 1), in which growth in one domain impacts and is connected to the others (Simard, 2011; Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres, 2011). As you move through the developmental maps featured later in this section, it is important to remember that maturation always takes place as part of the whole. Healthy development of the mind, body and spirit is—as our Aboriginal partners have long affirmed—contingent on balance and interconnectedness. It is also important, regardless of the age of the youth you serve, to familiarize yourself with the events that might have already taken place, and with those that may be arriving shortly. By having a perspective of the overall developmental picture, you can better anticipate and support the growth that is to come.
Context matters!
Throughout conversations with researchers, community leaders,
and youth across the province about youth development, one
message was clear: context matters (Figure 2). It matters whether
a young person is growing up in an urban or rural setting, a high
or low socio-economic status neighbourhood, in a minority
setting for a Francophone, or in a particular cultural community,
for example, one of the many Aboriginal communities in Ontario.
Environment, history and life events impact the experiences youth
have, the challenges they face, the supports and opportunities they
have access to and the choices that they make.
INSIGHT: CULTURAL AND
LINGUISTIC IDENTITY
Research on young Francophones in a minority setting reveals their complex and hybrid identities. They claim both Francophone and Anglophone cultures, while still being attached to their “Francophoneness”. Increasingly, they define themselves through a truly bilingual identity. (Dallaire and Denis, 2005; Gérin-Lajoie, 2003).
Sense of self: a core concept
Many researchers, youth and community leaders told us that,
despite all the rapid and significant changes that take place as a
child becomes an adult, there remains an enduring (yet changing)
core or sense of self in each person (Figure 3). It is this “force of
gravity” that connects aspects of development and experience
together. The concept of self takes on different meanings for
different people. For example:
When thinking about the individual and contextual issues that influence youth development, it is important to keep this additional factor of self in mind. By acknowledging the core self, you can demonstrate sensitivity and greater understanding of a young person’s unique needs. And while the nature of a youth’s self may not be immediately apparent, the individual youth’s core self can often be discovered through discussion and attentive listening.
A young person’s sense of self can be a valuable platform for making youth development experiences relevant and engaging to them. It can also further their developmental growth (for example, identity formation, social group-esteem).
Engaging youth in a way that connects with their self should be done sensitively and thoughtfully. If you feel that you do not have the skills or knowledge, or feel comfortable, in engaging youth in this way, it can be helpful to seek out, and partner with, individuals (for example, elders, community leaders) or organizations that have this expertise.
INSIGHT: ENGAGING THE SELF IN
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
Rites of passage, spiritual tasks and cultural ceremonies can be important activities in both marking and supporting developmental growth.
As an example, in present day Anishinaabe culture, youth undergo a Naming Ceremony to get their spiritual/Anishinaabe name. This supports the young person’s formation of their identity so that they can move forward in fulfilling their purpose in life (Simard, 2011).
This path or that?
We do not assume that there is a single path to success. Every
person starts their journey from a unique position and may likewise
be headed toward a unique destination. Individual attributes, life
choices, and environmental factors interact to set a young person’s
general direction in life. While some pathways may lead to more
successful outcomes than others, this doesn’t imply that there is
only one road to adulthood. A young person who is headed down
one path can, with guidance and support, always chart a new
course—this resource helps to provide a map.
Adolescence is a period of rapid change
Adolescents and young adults experience many changes, often
occurring simultaneously or in rapid succession. Beginning with
puberty, youth undergo major physical changes at the same time that:
While negotiating these changes, young people also grapple with their emerging identities, make important decisions about the future, and face a number of transitions:
INSIGHT: STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT
For the purpose of this resource, “youth” has been divided into three developmental stages:
These developmental stages overlap as a reminder that development occurs at different rates for every youth.
Four dimensions of development
The developmental maps presented later in this section of the
resource are organized across the cognitive, emotional, social,
and physical aspects of youth development. A brief description
is provided in the following pages to highlight the key features
of each of these domains.
The brain continues to adapt beyond the early years
As recently as the mid-1990s, the prevailing belief among
neuroscientists was that the more important aspects of brain
development ended by about age three. We now know that the
brain continues to organize, adapt and change well beyond the
early years. In fact, the changes that occur in the brain during
late childhood, adolescence and young adulthood are particularly
dramatic (Jetha & Segalowitz, 2011).
DIGGING DEEPER: RESEARCH ON YOUTH
DEVELOPMENT
Research on adolescent brain development has expanded dramatically in the last two decades, with 66% of the publications on the topic appearing since 2000.
Brain function becomes increasingly efficient and specialized
The human brain reaches adult size just before puberty (around age
12). In several regions of the brain, grey matter (neurons or brain
cells) increases until the onset of puberty and then decreases as
neurons are eliminated through a “use it or lose it” process. This
process contributes to the increasing efficiency of brain functioning
during adolescence and to adolescents’ increasing ability to process
complex information and learn new concepts. At the same time,
white matter (myelin and axons) increases, speeding up the rate of
signals moving between brain cells, also contributing to the brain’s
increasing efficiency.
The “executive” functions slowly mature
The area of greatest change after puberty is the prefrontal
cortex. This area is associated with “executive” functions such as
monitoring, organizing, planning, decision making, anticipating
consequences, impulse control, and delay of gratification.
The maturation of the prefrontal cortex is a slow process that takes
place throughout adolescence and early adulthood. This maturation
process depends to a large degree on experience—the executive
functions are acquired and develop through practice. The resources
and variety of experiences available to adolescents and young
adults, as well as the ways in which they decide to spend their
time, contribute to variability across individuals in terms of their
brain development.
Processing speed, concentration and memory improve
Processing speed (how quickly new information is taken in)
increases until mid-adolescence. Adolescents become gradually
better at ignoring irrelevant information in order to concentrate
on information relevant to the task at hand. Young people also get
steadily better at replacing an already-established response when a
new and different response is required. In addition, working memory
and the ability to multitask improve throughout adolescence and
into adulthood.
Reasoning abilities improve
These improving capacities are accompanied by improvements in
reasoning abilities. The ability to think abstractly develops during
adolescence, as does the ability to think logically, and consider
different perspectives. Youth also become more able to engage
in scientific reasoning to formulate and test hypotheses and
draw conclusions.
Perspective-taking
Young children tend to have a difficult time separating their
perspective from others’ perspectives, or understanding that others
may have a different perspective on a given situation or issue.
In adolescence, the young person can come to understand that other people may hold different perspectives and that those people appreciate different perspectives themselves (this is called “mutual perspective-taking”). By late adolescence, young people can come to understand how these mutual perspectives are influenced by people’s social roles. This developmental progression is not tightly linked with age. For example, while many young adolescents are capable of mutual perspective-taking, it is not uncommon to find late adolescents who are not capable of it.
Perspective-taking on its own is not sufficient. Without the emotional capacity for empathy, for example, a person can take advantage of others with the knowledge gained from their perspective-taking abilities.
IN THEIR OWN VOICES
“Teachers and mentors can provide youth with the skills and ideas necessary to tackle greater concepts through a critical lens. Much of this is done through discussion and debate. When you learn from others, you grow through them and their experiences which you then incorporate into your own.”
“My opportunities to travel and work abroad have really helped me push personal boundaries and challenge myself. It has also given me a broader world view and a new perspective on old issues.”
Learning strategies improve
Learning strategies generally improve throughout adolescence and
into adulthood. Adolescents are able to reflect on their own thinking,
and they are able to observe how they learn and develop strategies
to improve their learning.
Digital media may have influenced adolescent learning styles
Some researchers believe that digital media and communication
technologies have had a profound impact on the learning styles and
behaviours of today’s youth (Martinovic, Freiman & Karadag, 2011).
These youth:
They also rely heavily on communication technologies to access information and to carry out social and professional interactions (Veen & Vrakking, 2006; Pletka, 2007).
DIGGING DEEPER: N-GEN’ERS
Adolescents develop a more rational approach to knowledge
As well as reflecting on their own thinking, adolescents begin
to think about knowledge and the trustworthiness of different
knowledge claims. Some adolescents may become skeptical of all
claims, while others may accept the knowledge claims of a single
authoritative source and reject all others.
With further development, adolescents and young adults can move toward a more rational approach to knowledge in which it is accepted that not all claims are equally true (or untrue), and that, by considering evidence and arguments, it is possible to discern that some claims are more likely to be true than others.
Youth told us that they want a reasonable level of support to help keep their lives in order. They want friendly reminders about upcoming commitments and tell us, for example, that they are keen to receive instruction on how to use a “to do” calendar or agenda. When deadlines or obligations are missed (due to a conflict with a friend, for example), most adolescents are looking for their adult allies to show some understanding. But, as these skills develop, young adults say they are comfortable receiving less direct prompts and want to be held more accountable.
When faced with significant life decisions, like which career path to follow, most youth said that they are interested in hearing about, and discussing, the experiences and first-hand knowledge of others. Youth also mentioned the importance of having many adults in their lives as a way to increase exposure to a variety of different perspectives (for example, cultural activities, social perspectives). At the same time, young people told us they ultimately desire the freedom to make decisions for themselves.
Emotion, motivation and stress are heightened
Adolescents often feel emotions more intensely, and are more
sensitive to pleasure and reward than either children or adults.
In addition, adolescents are often particularly vulnerable to stress.
INSIGHT: VARIABILITY IN BRAIN
DEVELOPMENT
There is great individual variability in the brain-based changes described in this section. For example, many adolescents show greater brain responses to emotion compared to adults or younger children, but this is not true for all adolescents.
Adolescents are less able to regulate their desires and emotions
Adolescents are not as able as adults to curb their desire for
pleasure, which can lead to an increase in risk-taking behaviour.
Adolescents are also not as able as adults to manage their emotions
and their stress levels, which leaves adolescents more vulnerable
to mental health issues. In fact, the lifetime risk for the emergence
of mental disorders (for example, anxiety, depression) peaks in
adolescence.
Although risk-taking behaviour is often associated with negative outcomes (such as car accidents or addictions), the curiosity and desire for novel experiences that fuel risk-taking also present tremendous opportunities for exploration, learning and development. Learning to become independent, for example, is a very risky endeavour, but it is a key part of adolescence.
IN THEIR OWN VOICES
“Don’t be afraid to go out and find who you are. Try new things, take risks, and be safe. Make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into before you make decisions so that you don’t make one that you’ll regret.”
IN THEIR OWN VOICES
“I think just talking it over as to why I am upset, sometimes it may just be because I am tired and lacking patience for something, but overall just giving me space and time to think and then talking works best.”
Learning to manage emotions is a key task in adolescence
The key developmental task for youth in the emotional domain
is the development of emotional self-regulation. While adolescents
have become more capable of experiencing emotions, their
capacity for self-regulation and for decision making lags behind.
Learning to regulate their emotions is, therefore, initially quite
difficult for adolescents.
Strategies for emotional regulation broaden and shift from primarily external, behaviourally-oriented strategies in childhood (when parents and other significant adults help children regulate their emotions) to more internal and cognitive (thought-based) strategies in adolescence and young adulthood, when it becomes important to regulate emotions independently.
INSIGHT: EMOTIONAL REGULATION
Emotional regulation refers to the strategies a person uses to manage emotions. This includes strategies such as initiating, maintaining, and modifying the occurrence, intensity, or duration of feelings (Rawana et al., 2011).
Adolescents develop new adaptive strategies
Some of the cognitive strategies that emerge in adolescence
work well for emotional self-regulation and are considered to
be “adaptive” strategies:
They may also use maladaptive strategies
Other strategies tend to be less successful in helping to
regulate emotions in a productive manner. These maladaptive
strategies include:
INSIGHT: THE ROLE OF
SELF-PERCEPTION
A unique feature of emotional regulation that emerges in young adulthood is the perception of one’s own ability to regulate emotions. Young adults who consider themselves to be good at regulating their own emotions tend to be better at managing negative emotions, are more prosocial, are less likely to avoid stressful situations, and report fewer depressive symptoms. In contrast, a lack of confidence in the ability to regulate emotions is linked to higher rates of depression and delinquency.
Self-regulation is a critical success factor for adolescents
Adaptive emotional regulation is one of the factors that contributes
to the ability to successfully cope and adapt to significant life
stress or adversity. In adolescence, adaptive emotional regulation
strategies are associated with maintaining good social relationships,
academic achievement, and overall psychological well-being.
Maladaptive emotional regulation, on the other hand, is associated
with poorer mental health outcomes. In young adulthood, adaptive
emotional regulation is associated with more positive outcomes in
areas related to memory, relationships, and responses to stressful
life events.
IN THEIR OWN VOICES
“When I’m too stressed I tend to not organize myself. I tend to keep stuff inside.”
Empathy develops late in adolescence
Empathy—the capacity to recognize and share emotions that
another person is experiencing—does not generally become fully
developed until early adulthood. In childhood, a rudimentary form
of empathy emerges when children start to feel distressed while
observing someone else’s emotional distress. In late childhood and
early adolescence, this distress is replaced by empathy when young
people recognize the distinction between their own and others’
emotional reactions. Empathy during adolescence involves a largely
emotional response, while mature empathy that emerges in early
adulthood involves a more cognitive evaluation of the other person’s
emotional response.
Motivation becomes increasingly internalized
In early adolescence, motivations for engaging in behaviour begin
to shift from extrinsic to intrinsic. When extrinsically motivated,
individuals engage in activities for external reasons (for example,
to earn a reward or avoid punishment). When individuals are
intrinsically motivated, they engage in an activity because they
are interested in and realize the benefits of the activity.
While tasks such as homework and housework do not generally become intrinsically motivated (few people enjoy these tasks in and of themselves), reasons for engaging in such tasks start to become internalized in early adolescence. For example, adolescents start doing their homework of their own accord—rather than at the insistence of their parents—because they have internalized reasons for doing so (for example, they want to earn good grades). The internalization of motivations continues to develop throughout adolescence as behaviour becomes more self-regulated.
As young people develop the skills to manage new and intense emotions, they tell us they often look to sources such as friends, family, teachers, and counsellors for comfort and support. When expressing their emotions, adolescents expect to have their feelings respected and validated, and they feel patronized when others downplay their emotions with statements like “it can’t be that bad” or “get over it, already”. Even as young people become more adept at managing their emotions, it is important to remember that we all need someone to talk to, from time to time.
Young people, while acknowledging an affinity for excitement and risk-taking, expressed a desire to take these risks in a safe environment. A class trip to a rock-climbing gym, for example, was suggested by one youth as an effective means of safely seeking thrills. Youth were also adamant that they need information and advice on the potential impacts of risky behaviours so that they are better prepared to make good decisions. They reported that access to objective, frank information is especially crucial for young adults, who are often making decisions in an unsupervised setting.
IN THEIR OWN VOICES
“Know when I’m feeling down and don’t blow it off as some tiny thing. Some things mean a lot to me and I don’t appreciate having them scaled down.”
Social development concerns identity, relationships, and moral capacity
Adolescents develop a sense of self identity that carries into
early adulthood. Identity development can include many different
components such as gender identity, social group identity
(particularly for youth in minority groups), and spiritual identity.
While maintaining their sense of self, youth have to develop a
capacity for intimate relationships with their peers and romantic
partners, while developing independence from their parents.
In order to successfully manage their relationships with others,
young people also have to develop successful strategies for
addressing moral issues (Côté, 2011).
Most adolescents will explore varied identities
Early adolescents typically delay in making any identity commitments.
As they mature, most will actively explore different identity options
(for example, information about various career options). Many will
start to question their parents’ values as they consider their own
values. Others may skip the identity exploration phase and commit
to identity roles based on the expectations of others (for example,
allowing their parents to decide on future career direction).
IN THEIR OWN VOICES
“Mostly what has shaped me are the clubs I have joined. For me, I am outgoing at home, but shy at school, but joining these clubs/councils/committees has made me more outgoing, letting me take more leadership roles, which I wouldn’t have done otherwise.”
After a sometimes prolonged period of exploring who they are and how they fit into the world, adolescents and young adults generally begin committing to an identity that includes roles, values, beliefs and goals. Identity development includes several different components, such as self-concepts, self-efficacy, and self-esteem.
Self-concepts
Self development begins with the emergence of self-concepts.
In childhood, these self-concepts tend to be quite concrete
(for example, I live in Canada, I have a dog, I want to be a fireman
when I grow up). In early adolescence, self-concepts become more
abstract (I am a leader, I am ambitious, I am spiritual) and more
specific to each individual.
Later in adolescence, self-concepts become more differentiated across different contexts (for example, one individual may be deferential with parents, a leader among friends and shy in class), and adolescents also start to notice some conflicts in their conceptions of themselves in different situations. These conflicting self-concepts can provoke anxiety as adolescents try to work out who they really are.
IN THEIR OWN VOICES
“I feel most comfortable in myself when I’m working on cars or when I’m with my family. I feel less stressed out when I know I’m safe and know what I’m doing.”
“Be patient. Some people don’t know what they want to do, or who they are until they’re 25, or 45, or even after they retire. Don’t give up, and don’t be afraid.”
Self-efficacy
Self-efficacy involves a person’s appraisal of their own ability to
organize and execute a course of action to attain a set goal.
Self-appraisal skills begin to improve in early adolescence
(for example, mistaken childhood beliefs of competence are
replaced by realistic assessments of skill level) and early adolescents
also begin to engage in social comparison (comparing their skill
levels to those of their peers). As a result, self-efficacy often declines
in early adolescence. Young people, especially girls, become less
certain of their ability to achieve goals. The decline often continues
into mid-adolescence at which point self-efficacy begins to increase.
INSIGHT: SELF-EFFICACY AND
SELF-ESTEEM
Those who demonstrate a high degree of self-efficacy will often undertake more difficult tasks, stick with them longer, and be motivated by challenges. Such an individual might say, “I know I have the ability so, if I study hard, I will pass this math test”. Self-esteem, on the other hand, is an emotional appraisal of a person’s characteristics. A young person with high self-esteem, for instance, may say “I like who I am”. Conversely, someone with diminished self-esteem might state, “I am unhappy with the way I look”.
Self-esteem
Self-esteem is a more general opinion of one’s own personal worth.
In contrast to self-efficacy, which is based on judgments of one’s
abilities in particular domains, self-esteem is based on emotional
responses—how individuals feel about themselves. Self-esteem
tends to decline in early adolescence (especially among girls) and
often continues to decline into early adulthood at which point it
begins to rise again and continues on an upward trend throughout
adulthood until old age.
INSIGHT: SELF-ESTEEM
The self-esteem of adolescents tends to fluctuate more than that of children and adults. Early maturing girls often experience a decline in self-esteem, while early maturing boys frequently experience an increase.
Gender identity
The development of gender identity shifts in early adolescence
when gender role stereotypes start to intensify. Early adolescents
often become more attentive to, and strict about, gender
stereotypes. This often changes later in adolescence when youth
tend to become less rigid about what is appropriate for men and
women and begin to reject gender stereotypes.
Social group identity also expands
Social group identity also begins to shift in early adolescence. Early
adolescents (particularly those from minority groups) begin to show
an increase in social group-esteem (they show increasing pride
in belonging to their own social group). This increase continues
through adolescence and into early adulthood. By early adulthood,
many youth will have achieved a defined social group identity. They
display a commitment or sense of belonging to the group; they feel
comfortable with their own social identity; and, after independent
examination of their own beliefs, they reject the negative views held
by others based on stereotypes about their social groups.
INSIGHT: YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES
Some developmental processes are more challenging for young people with disabilities, including those related to their social development. While the disability itself does not impact development, the way that peers and adults interact with youth who have a disability may affect the number and quality of their social experiences (Gorter et al., 2011).
Spiritual identity
Spiritual/religious identity is another aspect of identity that may
begin to shift in early adolescence—adolescents may start to
question and explore the foundations of the religious or spiritual
beliefs they have previously held. Young adults may integrate their
religious or spiritual beliefs into their larger identity or, in other
cases, religious/spiritual beliefs may be abandoned.
Developments in perspective-taking and the growing importance of peers carry important implications for social development during adolescence.
IN THEIR OWN VOICES
“Taking part in Native ceremonies gives me a sense of where I came from.”
“[My] friends have been with me through a lot and they’ve seen the worst, but they’ve also seen the best… We know more about each other than anyone else… Those are the kinds of people who have the ability to shape who you are because they matter, and you listen to them.”
The ability to appreciate varied perspectives emerges
Children learn at a young age to understand that others can have
different perspectives than their own (for example, they can hold
different beliefs and have different desires) but the development
of perspective-taking continues into early adulthood. Later in
adolescence, young people begin to understand that perspectives
are almost never “neutral” and that everyone’s perspective is
coloured by their context, beliefs and background.
This facilitates deeper peer relationships
These changes in perspective-taking allow for the establishment
of deeper bonds of intimacy between peers and romantic partners.
In early adolescence, input from peers starts to become more
important and young people start making social comparisons with
their peers, comparing their abilities and popularity, for example.
At the same time, young people become more self-conscious
(especially in the presence of their peers) and more vulnerable
to peer pressure.
Romantic relationships may emerge
In early adolescence, an interest in romantic relationships begins
to emerge, although mainly within the larger peer group. Early
adolescents become interested in romance and start to experience
passionate feelings. They may begin to form mixed-gender friendship groups and time spent with romantically attractive peers
usually occurs within the context of those groups. For lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgendered, two-spirited and queer (LGBTTQ) youth, an
early awareness of sexual orientation may be forming and LGBTTQ
youth may feel some apprehension regarding their same-sex
attractions due to social stigma (Scott & Walsh, 2011).
Later in adolescence, young people begin experiencing their earliest romantic relationships. These early romantic relationships are usually not based on emotional intimacy but more often are about fun and camaraderie, although some expressions of emotional intimacy may begin to emerge, and sexual behaviour may progress. LGBTTQ youth often acknowledge and may disclose their sexual orientation (“come out”) in mid-adolescence. They may tell a trusted friend or family member about a same-sex romantic interest.
In early adulthood, the focus within romantic relationships shifts to forming strong emotional and intimate bonds with a compatible partner. For many youth, it can be challenging to form close connections with a romantic partner while still maintaining a separate sense of identity. LGBTTQ youth often have their first openly same-sex relationships in early adulthood.
Parent relationships may suffer
As adolescents devote more of their time and energy to their
peer and romantic relationships, their relationships with parents
can suffer a period of heightened conflict. While frequent, high-intensity,
angry fighting is not necessarily a feature of adolescence,
the frequency of day-to-day conflicts over matters—both large and
small—often grows. Conflict with parents tends to be most frequent
in early to mid-adolescence, and generally declines afterwards.
IN THEIR OWN VOICES
“The biggest mistake parents make is that they’re afraid to talk to their kids about their own personal decisions. They’re afraid that if they do tell them their experiences, the kids might go and do that negative behaviour.”
“Family dinner at my house is a must and there is no way of escaping into your room! Even though at times it has been a pain, I must admit that there were good times in it as well.”
Young people said that exposure to different art forms and cultural ceremonies, travelling abroad and volunteering were some of the opportunities which shaped “who they are”. During this period of exploration, young people told us that freedom to discover their identity and to express their individuality is crucial but also note that they can be conscious of judgement, criticism and rejection from others. Youth advised that it is important for adult allies to keep an open mind. This will not only help youth feel comfortable as they grow, but also fosters the quality of relationships they learn to build with adults.
Peers, family members, and community leaders, as well as contemporary and historical figures, were all mentioned by youth as strong influencers of their sense of identity. Having access to positive role models, youth emphasize, is a critical ingredient in identity formation and positive development. Young people also told us that, because they are constantly observing, learning and emulating, positive role models can help them behave in positive and productive ways.
Strength and endurance
Throughout adolescence and into young adulthood, young people
will notice changes in their cardiovascular endurance, muscle
strength and endurance, and flexibility. These changes depend
on the levels of physical activity in which young people engage.
In general, there is a decline in physical activity beginning around
age 13 and continuing into adulthood.
Identifying physical strengths and limitations
In early adolescence, many young people will become aware of their
physical strengths and limitations. Many young people will use this
information to make decisions about the activities they will engage
in into adulthood—often giving up sports they previously enjoyed
and concentrating on those at which they excel (Lu, 2011).
IN THEIR OWN VOICES
"I work out a lot because I know when you are physically healthy, you are mentally healthy, which will produce a good state of mind."
Sleep patterns
The physical changes of puberty are also associated with changes
in adolescents’ sleep patterns. Adolescents feel wide awake and
alert until late at night, and have difficulty waking up early in the
morning. Sleep deprivation can be a consequence. It can contribute
to moodiness and irritability as well as difficulties in cognitive
processing and emotional regulation (Wolfson & Carskadon, 2003).
Puberty signals the onset of many physical changes
Much of the physical development that takes place during
adolescence begins with puberty. These changes include a
growth spurt marking the onset of adolescence. Females
typically have their growth spurt around age ten, males around
age twelve. Puberty also brings the development of primary
and secondary sexual characteristics.
Body image
These marked changes to the body and mind have significant
impacts on how youth feel about the appearance of their body.
Females, whose body mass tends to increase during puberty,
may develop a negative body image. This can affect their mood,
eating habits and mental well-being. Males, on the other hand,
tend to put on muscle mass, start to develop a masculine shape
and generally become more satisfied with their physical
appearance (Hayword, 2003).
Regardless of a young person’s sex, when puberty begins exceptionally early or late, there may be a greater likelihood of body image dissatisfaction (Hayword, 2003).
Nutritional requirements
The nutritional requirements for healthy development will also
increase around the onset of puberty. Caloric intake, especially
during a growth spurt, can skyrocket. The body’s need for
protein increases too, as it builds muscle mass. Calcium, the
mineral required to build bones, is also very critical during the
adolescent years (Spear, 2002).
As youth spend more time outside the family home, their eating habits often become chaotic. They begin to skip meals (often breakfast) and eat while on the go. An increasing portion of a young person’s food energy comes from habitual snacking between solid meals.
Youth tell us that leading a healthy and active lifestyle is a high priority but many obstacles make this difficult. Because their lives are filled with competing concerns, young people reported convenience as a significant factor. Recreation during the lunch hour was cited as an attractive option as were activities in accessible locations.
Variety is also crucial to attracting and maintaining participants’ interest. Some noted that activities were overly competitive, and required too large a commitment of time and resources. The option to try non-traditional activities like hiking or yoga, youth said, would also go a long way in encouraging healthy living.
Additionally, adolescents highlighted a desire to organize their own recreational initiatives. Youth report that such opportunities are valuable on two fronts: the youth organizers develop a range of valuable competencies (for example, self-efficacy, building relationships); and participants profit from their exposure to positive youth role models in a constructive setting.