The Importance of Adolescence in Creating Successful Adults

Abstract: SMY (sexual minority youth, which refers within this paper to youth who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer) are at risk for trauma in particularly high numbers. When SMY become homeless, their risk for exposure to trauma becomes even higher, presenting the helping professions with a population that faces unique problems in clinical settings that may seek to treat homelessness without considering minority stress and repeated exposure to trauma. We reviewed literature concerned with trauma, homelessness and SMY issues to determine which EBPs (evidence-based practices) have been deemed most helpful for this population and found very few. Our investigation into local resources available to homeless SMY was similarly discouraging. Since previous trauma and marginalized sexual orientation are the primary factors for continued risk, we can suggest that Trauma Informed Care and Gay Affirmative Cognitive Behavioral Therapy are currently our best choices. This paper will seek to explore why.

LGBTQ adolescents, also called sexual minority youth, have a higher risk of developing mental and emotional problems than heterosexual youth, and also face more bullying, harassment, and victimization due to homophobia (Craig, Austin, & McInroy, 2014). In order to address their needs, the researchers used group therapy that was based on

In the essay "Let Teenagers Try Adulthood", Leon Botstein expresses that the "superficial definitions" of high school students present a reason that they should be allowed to begin their lives in the working world rather than to prolong their education. Botstein is correct in proclaiming that high schools are breeding grounds for "cliques" and "artificial intensity”, and his address of the “flawed institution” of high school is cogent and fitting.

Minority status stress can lead to imposter feelings, which has been linked to negative mental health concerns, such as depression (Cokley, et al., 2013).

The first three sets of theory incorporated the levels, shifting levels of identities shaped by outside agencies for LGBT youth. Another social factor that impending on young sexual minorities are the threats of poverty. These threats cause LGBT youth to experience vulnerability and detriment to their identities. Corliss et al. research validates that statement. In their article, “High Burden of Homelessness Among Sexual-Minority Adolescents: Findings From a Representative, Massachusetts High School, Sample,” they review the prevalence of homelessness in LGBT and heterosexual adolescents (Corliss et al. 1683). Their findings include: 40% LGBT student in the Massachusetts

Elderly people physically slow down and have lower energy levels. There are changes in the body systems and organs that can usually result in all types of

Findings from this study will better enable researchers to identify social stressors that negatively affect the mental health of minority populations.

Robert Bly addresses that the community is slowly becoming a “World of Half Adults”. He illustrates to his readers that adolescents are not growing up into adults, they are stuck in the middle. Bly describes that America is drifting away from the “paternalistic” society, (where you get your structure, learn respect, and to grow from the example of his or her elders). Instead America is leaning towards a “sibling” society that provokes disrespect for elders, only wanting to “half ass” everything they do, and only reaching half of their full potential because of the lack of role models (page 57). Adolescents are not becoming adults because of parents, technology, and the “sibling” society.

Social stress amongst minority groups results from undesirable events that result in poor mental and physical outcomes. Most females in colleges experience stress when their demands exceed their abilities to cope and respond with the new environment, thus threatening their existence and well-being. In the end, they feel a sense of discrimination and become stigmatized within the social group. Moreover, they end up experiencing chronic strains, including the role captivity, restructuring, overload, interpersonal conflicts, and inter-role conflicts. Their demands tend to exceed their abilities to meet those demand, some of their demands are incompatible, and they have difficulties in developing their role sets. Such individuals find it challenging

Adolescence is both a social and cultural construct as well as biological one, it is the developmental period where one transition from being a child to adult and face biological, psychological, and social challenges. This challenging, and important time in between childhood and adulthood has caused a lot of interest in the psychological field and a number of theories have been developed in order to try and explain the different stages of development. One of the most significant models of psychosocial development was created by Erikson (1963) and the stage related to adolescents is known as the “Identity vs. Role-Diffusion”, where the one is in constant pursuit of a coherent sense of self during the teenage years. When the teenager is unable to put together aspects of themselves they experience role-diffusion. Later on Elkind (1967) introduced his theory of adolescent egocentrism, explaining the increase in preoccupation with oneself during the teenage years. Kohlberg (1969) quickly followed up with his theory of moral development, in order to examine how adolescents develop their ability to solve ethical dilemmas. Another challenge teenagers need to face is mental health. The psychological part of striving for independence, while still struggling with identity formation and having poor coping strategies can have serious consequences and lead to mental illnesses, such as depression which is a growing concern among youths. This essay will further examine to what extent

Nearly 26 per cent of GLBT youth are forced to leave their homes due to disputes concerning sexual orientation. This leaves the youth feeling isolated and unaccepted by the family. Often, teens believe running away is the only option. It makes teens feel like they have some control of their situation (Quinn, 2002). If GLBT teens seek refuge in a shelter will they meet the same discrimination and rejection they initially were trying to escape? Counselors at shelters need to be prepared to protect, and not perpetuate, these GLBT teens from further victimization.

Adolescence is marked as a critical transitioning period where individuals undergo through various types of changes such as physical, emotional, and cognitive maturation. Furthermore, many researchers have accounted spirituality and religiosity as vital assets of development for youth as it provides morals, ideals, and a positive self-image. Spirituality is having an intimate experience of the sacred and divine, while religiosity correlates with organized religion. Religiosity embodies beliefs, practices, and rituals. In general, it is believed that adolescents who have been introduced to religion or some type of spirituality tend to have lower levels of anxiety and are less likely to develop maladaptive psychological adjustments.

Adolescence is the transitional period in a persons life time that links childhood and adulthood. The factors that influence development during adolescence include genetic/biological and environmental/social. There are many developmental issues that take place during the transition from an adolescent to a young adult. The issues of emerging adulthood(18-25) are characterized by new experiences, experimentation, exploration as well as new developmental tasks.

Nevertheless, this process profoundly differs among Latino and African-American it is based on white middle-class gay participants (Lewis and Marshall 2011; Bridges, Selvidge, & Matthews 2003). The unique stressors that Latinos and African-Americans face on a daily basis have serious implication in their mental health (Loiacano 1989).

Adolescence is a period of physical and psychological development from the onset of puberty to maturity. The adolescent is no longer a child, but they haven’t yet reached adulthood. Adolescence is considered people between the ages of 13 and 21. Puberty is the physical maturing that makes an individual capable of sexual reproduction. Puberty is important to adolescence because when a child hits puberty, that’s when the child is becoming an adolescent. Puberty is a big part of an adolescent’s life.