Why Is a Teenager's Life Not Easy?

The teenage years can be among the most difficult and trying periods in almost everyone's lives. It's not easy being a teen -- or the parent of a teen. The sweet, loving and agreeable kid you once knew might have become moody, angry and irritable. You might feel like you don't even know your own child. But it's important to remember that it's not your teen's fault. Most teens face multiple stressors and bodily changes that make the teen years a real challenge for both parents and their children.

  1. Hormones and Body Changes

    • Hormonal fluctuations and body changes are two of the main reasons that a teen's life isn't easy. Sexual development and other physical changes are brought on by the release of follicle-stimulating hormone, which triggers the growth or pubic hair, sperm production in boys and estrogen production in girls, according to the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. These changes can cause teens to feel self-conscious, nervous and preoccupied with their bodies. And many teens spend a tremendous amount of time worrying about their appearance and comparing themselves to their peers.

    Academic Concerns

    • As if hormonal changes weren't enough of a challenge, most teens must also deal with a number of academic concerns. In fact, academic concerns are one of the top causes of teen stress, according to a survey of 124 adolescents administered by Becky Beacom, health education manager of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, as documented in a 2013 report. Teens worry about their grades, performing well on standardized tests, getting into college and future career choices. They might also stress about not living up to their own or parental expectations for academic achievement.

    Peer Pressure

    • Peer pressure is one of the biggest stressors for many teens. Some of the forms of peer pressure faced by teens include pressure to be sexually active at an earlier age; pressure to bully others, including cyber-bullying; pressure to fit in; and pressure to experiment with alcohol, tobacco, or prescription or illegal drugs, according to the Connecticut Clearinghouse, a program of the Wheeler Clinic, a mental health and social services agency located in Plainville, Connecticut. Teens who normally display good judgment might question themselves or feel the need to cave in to the demands of their friends and peer group just as a way to avoid sticking out.

    Relationships

    • Balancing social concerns is another common source of stress in most teens' lives. Teens might struggle with trying to figure out how to spend enough time with their families, romantic interests and friends. In addition, they might need to deal with sibling rivalry, fighting between family members, arguing with parents or friends, coping with divorce or facing the illness or death of a family member. And breakups of romantic relationships can be an extremely stressful experience for teens, according to psychologist Katherine Leugers in an article for Meers, Inc., the website of a group of consulting psychologists based in Columbus, Ohio.

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