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The question of where adolescents belong is somehow complex given that they have outgrown the need for continuous parental care, while on the other hand, they are not yet ready for sharing adult responsibilities. In addition, they don’t want to be dependent on their parents, but they are unable to take part in the interdependent system of adulthood. They rebel against childhood dependence; but before they reach interdependence, they crave independence and tend to be rebellious. Generally, the change from childhood to adulthood tends to be not smooth and is always a disharmonious process of biological maturation that is usually influenced by socio-cultural factors (Wolman, 1998, p. 5).
Adolescence is one of the most profound biological and social transitions in the lifespan. Usually, it begins with subtle changes in brain-neuroendocrine processes, hormone concentrations, and physical morphological characteristics and culminates in reproductive maturity (Lerner and Steinberg, 2004, p.15).
Adolescence as a social construction is more complex as a concept and entails definitional vagueness regarding the beginning and the ending of adolescence, for example, social-role passages into new reference groups, perceptions of the body, self and sexual image; and expectations for independent and mature behavior. Adolescence as an integrated biological and social construction has intrigued scholars, artists, parents, and adolescents alike for centuries and cultures have ritualized adolescence to varying degrees.
The biological changes of adolescence are universal, but the timing and social significance of these changes vary across historical times and cultures. All adolescents undergo biological and psychological changes determined by the glands of inner secretion and other factors, but not all adolescents undergo the same physical and mental changes (Lerner and Steinberg, 2004, p.15). Universally, adolescence is seen as a period of storm and stress, than at other ages.
Adolescents are prone to greater extremes of mood and more frequent changes in mood than younger or older individuals. Generally, in many cultures around the world, adolescence is characterized by a tendency of conflicts with parents to increase in frequency and intensity and also rates of risk behaviors, such as drinking, smoking, and sexual activities increasing (Micucci, 2009, p. 12).
Therefore, adolescence can be seen to be characterized by emotional upheavals and extensive stress and turmoil: exaggerated emotional swings from being exuberant and euphoric to suddenly becoming indifferent or melancholy. Universally, adolescence is characterized by biological changes that include endocrinological changes, physical growth, increase in body weight, which all adolescence across cultures share.
According to Levine (2004, p. 1), we should not focus on our mortality and how to live longer since survival alone is meaningless. What is really important is the quality of our lives and whether we can find satisfaction and pleasure in the things we do in the time available.
Some studies have shown that African Americans live fewer years than whites (Angel and Whitfield, 2007, p. 85). In such a contextual setting, one may ask do some factors contribute to a longer life? And if so, can the improvement and accessibility of such factors across cultures give the same positive results? Additionally, various studies conducted have shown that living better leads to living a long life. And therefore, what constitutes living better? Basically, humans are differentiated greatly with factors such as socioeconomic factors, nutrition, exercise, lifestyle, exposure to pollutants, and genetic factors; in turn, these factors largely influence how one lives and ages (Hess and Markson, 1991, p. 178).
Levine (2004) says that “how long we can forestall our demise in the larger societal sense is a direct offshoot of the socioeconomic and medical state of that society”. It is such factors that lifespan today is much greater than it was fifty years ago and much greater than it was one hundred years ago. To him, each organ system ages, and dies, according to its built-in regulatory factors and that, these factors can be modified to a varying extent by nurturing socioeconomic environment, although ‘good living’ can have the opposite effect.
Immeasurably, the world has experienced great transformation. What we can see now, was somehow not there during the time of our grandparents or if it was there, it has undergone modification. Many social aspects today characterize the modern world and to some extent, affect young people. For example, as a young person, technology has come to characterize social life. Today, just sitting anywhere with a laptop, one can navigate the whole world, interact, read, purchase and even sell. Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, and Gmail have increased understanding of the world through interaction, communication, and reading.
Another social aspect that has continued to influence life is family and personal economic status. That is, today, to act in any social situation, you need money. The problem is further aggravated by increasing economic recession that affects the majority of local, young people, especially those in employment, or unstable jobs. The other factor that has continued to affect life is the issue of globalization. During our grandparents’ time, their ease in accessing the social global world was limited; today, we frequently talk of the global village. Our behaviors continue to be largely affected by what we learn from others, far away from us.
We continue to drastically reduce the distance between us and the other people in the world, mainly through communication and information sharing. Therefore, as young people, we are experiencing a totally different period in our lifetime, to that of our grandparents. Indeed, our socioeconomic, political, and health world continues to experience major changes and shifts than before.
Works Cited
Angel, Jacqueline. L and Whitfield, Keith. E. The health of aging Hispanics: the Mexican-origin population. NY, Springer. 2007. Web.
Lerner, Richard M and Steinberg, Laurence. D. Handbook of adolescent psychology. NJ, John Wiley and Sons. 2004. Web.
Levine, Robert. Aging with attitude: growing older with dignity and vitality. CT, Greenwood Publishing Group. 2004. Web.
Micucci, Joseph. A. The Adolescent in Family Therapy, Second Edition: Harnessing the Power of Relationships. NY, Guilford Press. 2009. Web.
Wolman, Benjamin. B. Adolescence: biological and psychosocial perspectives. CT, Greenwood Publishing Group. 1998. Web.
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