Information on the Major Stressors in Teens' Lives

Major sources of stress for teens are very similar to stresses experienced by adults. They can include interpersonal relationships, performance expectations and major life events. The difference for teens is that they are still growing physically and mentally and have fewer years of life experiences to help them cope with the expectations of others, life events and their own emotions.

  1. Interpersonal

    • Teen interpersonal relationships can include parents, siblings, teachers, friends, romantic interests, work supervisors and co-workers. A National Network for Child Care Network newsletter article, "Helping Young Adolescents Cope With Stress," says that teens have more trouble coping with multiple conflicting stresses of day-to-day life than they do coping with major life events. A busy teen's parents and teachers might be pulling him one way, while his boss, friends and girlfriend are pulling in three more directions. Meanwhile, his internal self also has emotional needs and desires that might not match up with any of the external pressures.

    Performance Expectations

    • Her parents require certain chores be done at home, she might be responsible for watching younger siblings, her boss expects her to be on time, her teachers want homework completed and turned in on time, her friends want her to come play the group's game of choice, and her significant other wants her to call, text or spend more face-to-face time together. Add extracurricular activities and lessons to all that to create a scheduling nightmare that might daunt the organizational abilities of an adult.

    Physical and Mental Growth

    • Transitioning from childhood to adulthood is a major life event. Being a teen involves changing physically and mentally while being introduced to new school settings, new routines, and a new set of expectations from parents and teachers. Adolescence brings new feelings, new physical responses, and dramatic changes in personal shape and size. In addition to externally visible changes, a teenager's brain is also growing. His intelligence equals that of an adult, but his ability to use his mental capacity is still under construction. Learning to understand himself can create stress.

    Major Life Events

    • Death, moving, changing schools, and acquiring and losing friends are all considered major life events. The teen years are filled with many firsts: first job, learning to drive, first car, first car accident, first romantic interest. Each of these events has an emotional impact that can translate into stress. More importantly, since daily stress is harder for teens to manage than major life events, each of these things can create changes in your teen's daily routine, making it harder for her to manage her emotions.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • Long-Term Impacts of Corporal Punishment by Parents
      Although spanking might result in children who jump when you say “frog,” it could have undesirable consequences in the long run, according to a February 2009 article on the CBS News website. CBS News reports psychologist Elizabeth Gershof
    • What Are the Statistics on Family Sit-Down Meals & How They Affect Youth?
      Self-discovery and rebellion characterize childhood and adolescence. During such times, values and habits can be shaped by family traditions. Family sit-down meals can be a predictor of youth behavior and academic success. Academic Perf
    • How to Entertain a 5 Month Old
      Five month olds bring a new challenge to entertainment! Things Youll Need Pets Outdoors Stores/new places Small groups of friends/family members Stuffed animals/Puppets New foods Bath time Exersaucer Teethers Music Instructions