The adolescent years mark the transition between middle childhood and early adulthood, a period in which humans experience substantial cognitive and physical growth. Teenagers, more than anybody else, require the transforming process since so many factors can either positively or negatively impact their development. Since the notions embody many components that influence adolescents, cultural and family variables are crucial fundamental features that play a big part in teens’ lives. Peer pressure, for example, is emphasized as an issue of worry when it comes to teens due to societal considerations. As a result, the core of this discussion is evaluating how social, cultural, and familial influences affect teenagers during the adolescent stage.
In studies on family difficulties, ideas like parental relationships, support networks, and income are among the crucial components that influence adolescent development. The more children mature, the more important parental interactions are since they help guide them toward the right life trajectory. Creating a strong support structure for teens as they work to define their identities is essential at this time because it helps them build moral character (Garcia et al., 2018). Contrarily, financial security enables teens’ caregivers to support their way of life as they mature during the adolescent era. Because teens are so vulnerable at this age, parents should think about how to help their children grow by providing them with appropriate direction and without abandoning them.
On the other hand, research on cultural factors has highlighted social obligations and interpersonal connections as factors that significantly impact teenage development. This is because different cultures require teens’ distinct responsibilities during puberty, a time when children tend to develop more autonomy (Leung et al., 2019). For example, in certain cultures, some children may be given greater freedom while others may be required to perform specific household responsibilities. This aids their cognitive development, assisting them in forging relationships in many culturally appropriate ways.
Due to the ambiguous ties kids build with their peers during adolescence, social relationships among teens might result in uncontrollable behaviors. Peers are important to teens because they help their friends develop their personalities and identities. Teenagers should thus get appropriate instruction on how to build their identities independently of peer pressure (Fuligni, 2018). However, it is noteworthy to suggest that constructive peer influence, which focuses on enhancing youngsters’ identities, is welcomed because it would aid in developing decent citizens. Negative peer pressure, however, that would encourage teens to engage in vice activities is strongly discouraged since it would cause them to create undesirable personalities that are disapproved of in any given society.
To guarantee the success of the transition phase, teens and caregivers must decide how they can help one another during the adolescent years. In order to build a mutually beneficial connection, parents and teens must comprehend their respective responsibilities in this process. For instance, parents must understand that when their children enter puberty, their job will shift from being only a provider to supporting them as they grow into adults. On the other hand, teenagers must understand that as they mature and begin to behave like young adults, they must assume duties and responsibilities. They may build solid connections with their children and parents by ensuring that both partners know their responsibilities.
Although many elements influence teens throughout their early adolescent development, it is essential to comprehend how aspects like family, society, and culture influence their growth. This is because it provides parents with the knowledge they need to support their children during the period and aids teens in understanding their own physical and psychological development. Therefore, teenagers and caregivers need to comprehend how various factors contribute to their development since they directly influence their growth through their environment.
References
Fuligni, A. J. (2018). The Need to Contribute During Adolescence. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 14(3), 331–343. Web.
Garcia, P. R. J. M., Sharma, P., De Massis, A., Wright, M., & Scholes, L. (2018). Perceived Parental Behaviors and Next-Generation Engagement in Family Firms: A Social Cognitive Perspective. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 43(2), 224–243. Web.
Leung, H., Shek, D., Leung, E., & Shek, E. (2019). Development of Contextually-relevant Sexuality Education: Lessons from a Comprehensive Review of Adolescent Sexuality Education Across Cultures. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(4), 621. Web.