Behavior Problems in Adolescents

Behavior problems are common with kids as they grow physically and progress toward eventual independence. Stay connected with your youngster throughout adolescence to help her mature successfully and safely. Your hands-on approach should make any behavior problems easier to manage.

  1. Brain Development Can Cause Problems

    • Although an adolescent may look mature on the outside, her brain is far from being fully developed, according to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. The frontal cortex area of the brain controls reasoning and impulses. This part of the brain continues to develop into early adulthood. The end result of these changes will be highly organized behavior, but during development, behavior issues are common for adolescents. The behaviors you might see from this ongoing brain development include impulsiveness, aggression, taking risks and trouble connecting with others and perceiving emotions.

    Quest for Independence

    • Adolescence typically involves the beginning of separation from parents, working toward independence, according to the KidsHealth website. Kids transfer connections with parents to connections with peers in a drive to fit in with them. The drive for independence might involve rejecting parental values and opinions, instead choosing alignment with peers. Sometimes youngsters intentionally reject parental values just to be different in a provocative stance, experimenting with new attitudes and personas to see what fits.

    Problem Behaviors

    • A number of problem behaviors are common with adolescents. Youngsters might experiment with tobacco, alcohol and drugs. In a 2013 survey of adolescents, 3.5 percent of 8th-graders, 12.8 percent of 10th-graders and 26 percent of 12th-graders reported getting drunk in the past month, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The survey also indicated that 16.3 percent of 12th graders were current cigarette smokers. Other problem behaviors include reduced school performance, delinquency and dropping out. Teenagers may also act out criminally with shoplifting, vandalism or violence. Sometimes teenagers withdraw from parents and stop communicating, which can result from depression and anxiety.

    Parental Connection During Behavior Problems

    • A strong and steady connection between adolescent and parents is important during maturation and growing independence. This connection is even more crucial if your teen is exhibiting problem behaviors. Remain available to support your teen and to listen if he needs to talk. He might surprise you and approach you, even if he's often aloof and distant. Continue to exemplify your values with your teen, even if it seems like he̵7;s rejecting your opinions. He̵7;s still watching you and your example still carries powerful weight, advises a document titled ̶0;Adolescent Development and Pathways to Problem Behavior,̶1; published by SAGE Publications. Sometimes kids fall back onto parents for increased emotional support during adolescence, and your continued connection will make this more likely.

    Seeking Help

    • If behavior problems become extreme and conflicts arise that you don̵7;t feel equipped to handle, seek professional help for intervention. Your child̵7;s physician can recommend a therapist or program that may help reach the youngster and resolve problems. Treatment often involves the family as well as the adolescent in an effort to enable the entire unit to work through issues together. As parents, you can also receive guidance on effective parenting methods for dealing with your child.

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