DAMMAM: Adolescence describes the period in human growth and development that occurs after childhood and before adulthood, from the

ages of 11 to 21.

It represents one of the most difficult and critical transitions of human life. During this time, adolescents approach mental, psychological, physical and social maturity; indeed, they are no longer children, but not yet adults.

Hassan Al-Mjamed, family medicine specialist, said: “One of the most important problems among adolescents is the need to get rid of the constraints of family to have a sense of independence, and this is the main reason behind most conflicts that occur between the teenager and his or her family. These conflicts often relate to choices of friends, clothes, hairstyles, ways of spending money, curfew times and methods of studying.”

Adolescents sometimes put themselves at risk without thinking of the consequences, too. They get fascinated by many rowdy and thrilling adventures and actions and start living in world of dreams, imagining themselves as being invincible, Al-Mjamed said.

He noted that the physiological changes affect the behavior of the adolescent during this time, and these changes include not listening to parents and demonstrating a lack of respect for them in some cases.

Such adolescents have a tendency to achieve independence through the struggle for self-assertion in front of their parents and younger brothers and sisters, demonstrated through mood swings, causing confusion among some parents. Muhammad Abdul Mokhtar, psychology professor, said: “Adolescence is a cultural concept that varies depending on the geographical location in which the individual lives. Traditions, values, customs and the nature of space and time play an active role in their development during this time."

Regarding the kinds of adolescence experienced by some, he said that there are three types: First, there's a class of teenagers who suffer from isolation and withdrawal due to the rapid changes in the body.

Secondly, there is a broad category of adolescents whose behavior is characterized by violence, rebellion and disobedience to their parents or to any authority, as the teenager faces severe frustrations and conflicts between his urgent desire and the obstruction to achieve those desires.

Third is the compatibility and adaptability category, which applies to those who have entered this phase while still retaining the ability to compromise and adapt to these changes as a result of the awareness of parents, their ongoing guidance and discussions, and building bridges of friendship between them and their son or daughter, the professor said.

Educational researcher Mohammed Al-Khaiwani, noted: “Teenagers need a supportive family in this phase that effectively performs its educational role by instilling confidence, respect and responsibility in teenagers, along with giving them freedom of expression and the ability to meet their own needs.”

He said that adolescents depend on their families, communities, and schools to learn a wide range of important skills that can help them to cope with the pressures they face and make the transition from childhood to adulthood successfully.