Challenges in the Transition from Adolescence to Adulthood

This article discusses the challenges faced by adolescents in the transition from adolescence to adulthood, including biological, cognitive, and psychological challenges. It emphasizes the importance of proper guidance and support during this phase to ensure healthy development.

Running head: LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT
LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT
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The phase of children’s early childhood is certainly a matter of concern for the parents
however the more stressful phase for parents is the phase of transition from adolescence to
adulthood. It is one of the major challenges for everyone (Arnett & Tanner, 2016). The transition
from adolescence to adulthood is often successful and people manage to go on with it throughout
their life. It is specifically a terrible issue among the young people.
Firstly, the major challenges of adolescence are the biological challenges that begin with
the first well-defined maturation event known as puberty. The biological challenges are the
changes in the physical body that occurs due to release of the sexual hormones. It has a profound
impact on emotion of an individual (Simmons, 2017).
Secondly, it is the cognitive challenges that adolescents go through in the transition
phase. According to Piaget, adolescence is the stage when young people develop cognitively
from ‘concrete operation’ to ‘formal operations’. During this stage they become able to deal with
concepts, ideas and abstract theories. Not being able to develop this stage appropriately leads to
lifelong impacts. Since adolescents are egocentric, they learn to become self-conscious and
during the time they are alone, they live freely. It is an emotionally challenging stage for them.
Therefore requires attention from the other adults who would make it simpler for them. Else, it
may lead to negatives impacts on cognitive development and other mental health issues such as
depression, anxiety and other (Arnett, 2014).
Thirdly, the psychological challenges in the adolescents are one of the important for in
the transition phase. It is concerned with their coping actions with transition from adolescents to
adulthood. It is entirely new process and emerging of new person that goes through changes with
the rules, responsibilities and news set of code of conducts as per their age. Therefore, children

2LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT
often require guidance in coping with the change psychologically. In this process, the concept of
accountability becomes an expectation from both parents and legal concepts. It is important they
are provided with proper guidance during this point of life otherwise it may lead to misconduct,
juvenileness behavior or mental misbalances unable to cope with the change (Arnett,
Žukauskienė & Sugimura, 2014).
There are four major kinds of challenges that take place in the transition from adolescents
to adulthood. It is the most crucial point of lifespan that have impact on the entire life.

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References:
Arnett, J. J. (2014). Adolescence and emerging adulthood (pp. 102-111). Boston, MA: Pearson.
Arnett, J. J., & Tanner, J. L. (2016). The emergence of emerging adulthood: The new life stage
between adolescence and young adulthood. In Routledge Handbook of Youth and Young
Adulthood (pp. 50-56). Routledge.
Arnett, J. J., Žukauskienė, R., & Sugimura, K. (2014). The new life stage of emerging adulthood
at ages 18–29 years: Implications for mental health. The Lancet Psychiatry, 1(7), 569-
576.
Simmons, R. G. (2017). Moving into adolescence: The impact of pubertal change and school
context. Routledge.