Adolescent Social Development

Adolescents are vulnerable to various changes that take place during this period. Adolescence is also one of the riskiest phases of development, due to the complexity and magnitude of change that occurs. Right information and guidance helps young people to understand their developmental changes and to have effective health seeking behvior. Source of information is very much required for young people to seek better health management and proper adjustments skills. Source of information can be parents, siblings, teachers, peer group, health professionals and other significant people who can guide young in better direction. Evan media has great impact on adolescents to receive information on their growth and development. They prefer media as source

The relationships adolescents have with their peers, family, and members of their social sphere play a vital role in the social development of an adolescent. Adolescence is a critical period in social development because adolescents can be easily influenced by the people they develop close relationships with. This is the first time individuals can truly make their own decisions, which also makes this a sensitive period. Relationships are vital in the social development of an adolescent due to the extreme influence peers can have over an individual. These relationships become significant because they begin to help the adolescent understand the concept of personalities, how they form and why a person has that specific type of personality. Communication within peer groups allows adolescents to explore their feelings and identity as well as develop and evaluate their social skills. Peer groups offer members the opportunity to develop social skills such as empathy, sharing, and leadership. Adolescents choose peer groups based on characteristics similarly found in themselves. By utilizing these relationships, adolescents become more accepting of who they are becoming. They can share and express emotions and other concerns without fear of rejection or judgment. Understandably, then, for both adolescents and their parents, adolescence is a time of excitement and of anxiety; of happiness and of troubles; of discovery and of bewilderment; and of breaks with the past and yet of

Adolescence has been described as a phase of life beginning in biology and ending in society (Peterson, 1988). Indeed, adolescence may be defined as the period within the life span when most of a person 's biological, cognitive, psychological, and social characteristics are changing from what is typically considered child-like to what is considered adult-like (Lemer & Spainer, 1980). For the adolescent, this period is a dramatic challenge, one requiring adjustment to changes in the self, in the family, and in the peer group. In contemporary society, adolescents experience institutional changes as well. Among young adolescents, there is a change in school setting, typically involving a transition from elementary school to either junior high school or middle school; and in late adolescence there is a transition from high school to the worlds of work, university, or childrearing. Adolescents are moving towards becoming independent physically, emotionally and cognitively, and yet they are still growing. Young people still require stability in a home environment, and a secure emotional base from which to explore and experience the world. This also provides them with somewhere to come back to for reassurance, support and unconditional love in tough times. A parent 's relationship and caring role with a young person continues to be important, although the relationship will need to be flexible to adapt to the teenager 's changing needs. At this time, there will need to be a