Adolescent Development

Self-Esteem

Pride in oneself; self respect

Body Image

An attitude toward one's own body

Self-concept

The total person that the child or adolescent envisions themselves to be.

Cognition

The mental processes of the construction, acquisition, and use of knowledge, along with perception, memory, and the use of symbolism and language

Self-regulation

Ability to calm one's self

Identity

The individual and contextual factors that constitute self-perception

Occupational identity

Combination of interests, values, and abilities in the pursuit of a realistic choice of a job or a career path

Leisure

Freedom from the demands of work; engaging in a nonobligatory activity that is intrinsically motivating during free time

Self-efficacy

The individual's perception of their own capabilities

Physical Development

-Skeletal growth spurt

-Growth of muscle mass and strength

-Growth and maturation of reproductive organs

-Growth of secondary sex characteristics; pubic and body hair

-Boys: Significant increase in muscle mass; onset of sperm production and ejaculation

-Girls: Development of female body shape including breast development; menarche

Cognitive Development

-Increased capacity for abstract thinking-logical thinking, ability to assess risk and consequences vs. reward, problem solving skills, and language skills (especially in girls)

-Advanced reasoning- hypothetical deductive reasoning

-Development of impulse control- emotional self-regulation

-Future-oriented planning and goal setting

-Emergence of moral reasoning

-Greater ability to perceive others perspectives

-Questioning values of parents and institutions

Psychosocial Development

-Emotional separation from parents

-Exploration of interest, ideas, and roles along with interests and preferences.

-Formation of personal identity

-Identification with a peer group

-Exploration of romantic relationships

-Development of a sense of one's sexuality

-Developing sexual orientation

-Establishing occupation identity for future work roles

Physical Health

-Adolescents must know how their bodies are going to develop in order to know how to properly take care of themselves

-Adolescents must be properly informed of sexual expression and contraception to ensure safe sexual development

Mental Health

-Relationships between family, peers, and partners will change throughout this time and adolescents must be aware and mentally prepare

-Adolescents must know how their bodies are going to develop and understand that everyone develops at different rates so that they are able to maintain a positive body image

OT is needed for adolescents with

-Sensory needs

-Cognitive deficits

-Physical/behavioral/communication disabilities

-Can help with transitioning from high school to to work by working on life and prevocational skills

Early Adolescence: self

-Engrossed with self

-Changing mood and behavior

-Idealistic fantasizing about careers

-Importance of privacy

-Interest in experiences related to personal sexual development and exploring sexual feeling (masturbation)

-Self-consciousness

-Display of modesty

-Awkwardness about self and body

Early Adolescence: Relationship with family

-Emotional separation from parents

-Decrease in compliance with parent's rules or limits

-Challenging of other authority figures

-Questioning adults opinions

Early adolescence: Relationship with peers

-Mostly same-sex friendships with strong feelings towards these peers

-Experimenting with drugs

Middle adolescence: self

-Acceptance of developing body

-Sexual expression and experimentation (dating, sexual activity with partner)

-Exploring and reflecting on the expressions of own feeling and those of other people

-Increased realism in career/vocational aspirations

-Increase creative and intellectual ability

-Risk taking behavior underscored by feeling of omnipotence(sense of being powerful) and immortality

-Engaging in risk behaviors including reckless driving, unprotected sex, and high alcohol consumption

Middle adolescence: relationship with family

-Continuation of movement toward independence from family

Middle adolescence: relationship with peers

-Increased involvement in peer group culture

-Displayed in adopting peer values system

-Involvement in formal and informal peer groups such as sports teams, clubs, or gangs

-Still experimenting with drugs

Late adolescence: self

-More stable sense of self

-Increased independence in decision making and ability to express ideas and opinions

-Increased interest in the future

-Resolution of earlier angst at puberty about physical appearance and attractiveness

-Becoming realistic in vocational choice

-Definition of an increasingly stable value system

Late adolescence: relationship with family

-Strengthen relations with parents

-Parental advice and assistance valued

Late adolescence: relationship with peers

-Diminished peer influence

-Increase confidence in personal values and self of self and preference for one-to-one relationships

-Starting to select an intimate partner

Identity Diffusion

-An adolescent avoids or ignores the task of exploring their identity and has little interest in exploring options

-Common in early adolescence, is the least defined sense of personal identity)

Identity Foreclosure

-An adolescent who chooses to avoid experiencing an identity crisis by prematurely committing to an identity

-These adolescents do not engage in the process of self-exploration and experimentation

-Typically accept their parents' values and beliefs

Identity Moratorium

-An adolescent who openly explores alternatives, strives for autonomy, tries out different interests, and pursues a sense of individuality

-In early and middle adolescence is emotionally healthy

Identity achievement

-Following identity moratorium is an exploration of possibilities and healthy resolution of the quest

-Characterized by a commitment to interest, values, gender, and sexual orientation, political view, career or job, and a moral stance

-Enhances self-esteem