Fact Sheets And Publications
Adolescent Development and Behavior
Revised April 2025 by: Sydney Bouder
Adolescence
Adolescence is the developmental process from the onset of puberty to the mid-20s
Puberty: a gradual developmental transition among youth, shaped by biological and social processes
Adolescent development involves profound changes in biological, cognitive, psychosocial, and emotional development
Adolescent Phases:
Preadolescence (9-11 years):
Early Adolescence (12-13 years)
Adolescence (14-15 years)
Late Adolescence (15-20+ years)
There are predictable “tasks” or processes that are associated with healthy adolescent development, depending on the adolescent phase. As adolescents progress through developmental phases and tasks, there are expected and new behaviors that may present or arise.
| PHASE | DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS | Expected | Behavior | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre- adolescence (9-11 years) | Beginning to form ties outside the family | High energy, restlessness,, and fidgeting Argumentative with parents/caregi vers (rules, neatness, time management) | “bathroom humor” exploring risky behaviors | |||
| Early Adolescence (12-13 years) | movement toward independence (parent/caregiver rules, family values)
adjusting to new body image
|
moodiness, short-tempered; emotional sensitivity; increased fatiguevocal confidence focused on the past and the present shift toward making and prioritizing friendships
|
“testy” behavior/lang uage highly influenced by peers/peer pressure
increased risk-taking
|
|||
| Adolescence (14-15 years) | -Discovery of personal strengths -Develop ability to abstract think; futuristic thinking -New interest in exploring sexuality and sexual identity | -Irritable, aggressive, increased fatigue -Concerns with body/attractive ness -Desire for social approval -Spending less time with family and more time alone or with friends | sudden urge for autonomy physical exploration of sexuality (with self and others) rebelliousness self-conscious ness social media engagement | |||
| Late Adolescence (16-20+ years) | -Consolidate personality -Regulate emotions and behavior; “inner dialogue” -Gaining physical independence from parents/caregi ver | -Increased importance on intellectual/ career interests anxiety/anxio us tendencies -Firmer identity; stable interests -Desire for serious relationships | exploring “adult” roles mature, romantic relationships & friendships exploring financial independence acting based on cognitive/mo ral values |
REFERENCES
1. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Health and Medicine Division, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, Board on Children, Youth, and Families, & Committee on the Neurobiological and Socio-behavioral Science of Adolescent Development and Its Applications. (2019). Adolescent Development, The Promise of Adolescence: Realizing Opportunity for All Youth. National Academies Press. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545476/
2. Spano, S. (2004). Stages of Adolescent Development. ACT for Youth Upstate Center of Excellence. https://actforyouth.net/resources/rf/rf_stages_0504.pdf
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