Premium
Adolescent Development and the Emergence of Sexuality
Author(s) -
Petersen Anne C.,
Leffert Nancy,
Graham Barbara L.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1943-278x.1995.tb00485.x
Subject(s) - biopsychosocial model , psychosocial , developmental psychology , psychology , human sexuality , erikson's stages of psychosocial development , adolescent development , context (archaeology) , limiting , positive youth development , psychosexual development , cognition , clinical psychology , psychotherapist , psychiatry , gender studies , mechanical engineering , biology , paleontology , sociology , engineering
Adolescence is a time of significant opportunity and significant challenge. Challenges can be difficult for some adolescents, which may result in problems that are expressed as affective disturbances or by the adolescent's participation in risk‐taking behaviors. This review emphasizes the changes in biopsychosocial development during adolescence. We specifically address aspects of individual change during the adolescent decade (e.g., biological, cognitive, psychosocial, and sexual development) as well as the effects of context on normal development and responses to challenges during this period. Predispositions or vulnerabilities present prior to a developmental transition may be exacerbated by the transition. Adolescents can become healthy adults with the encouragement to develop gradually by limiting the simultaneous changes they experience, where possible, and by supporting healthy development through developmentally appropriate activities and supportive relationships with adults and peers.