PERDEV 3-5

• Developmental tasks


  Tasks that arise during certain periods in your life
• Any concern that hinders compliance with or accomplishment of these tasks may lead to an inability to perform tasks associated with the next period or stage of development in life
• Adjust to new physical changes

  Puberty brings many physiological changes and the discomforts that accompany these changes may affect self-esteem
• Adjust to new intellectual abilities

  With the transition in cognitive skills from concrete to abstract thinking during adolescence, one has to adjust within oneself
• Adjust to higher cognitive demands in school

  The educational curriculum is basically designed to match with developmental tasks at all levels
• Adjust to higher demand for verbal communication skills


  Adolescents are expected to learn proper expressions and tactfulness in communication, which they will use more when they become adults
• Develop personal sense of identity


  Adolescents have to establish a sense of identity apart from their parents. They have to recognize their uniqueness and capabilities to do things and slowly establish their own name. Answering the questions “What does it mean to be me? Or Who I am?”
• Establish vocational goals


  Adolescents consider which career or vocational goals to take and how they may achieve them. They are now able to answer the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
• Establish emotional and psychological independence from parents


  Adolescents need to establish independence and move away from childhood attachments and the security and safety of having their parents with them
• Develop stable Peer relationships


  Stable peer relationships start with stable individuals. In this stage, encounters with peers may lead to intense emotional experiences. Thus, adolescents need to learn the art of controlling emotions and being tactful in expression
• Manage Sexuality


  Adolescents need to manage their sexuality, that is being male or female, and live up to the expectations and norms set by family, culture, society, and spirituality. With the tendency to express themselves at random, they could be at the same time inhibited due to fear that they might send wrong signals and be judged by others
• Adopt a personal value system

  Parents provide their children guidance in identifying right and wrong. Eventually, the adolescents’ desire to become independent may lead them to reconsider parental values especially when these are in conflict with those of peers and society
• Adolescents becoming responsible


  1. Focus on school tasks such as joining classes, clubs, doing assigned homework

  2. Relate properly with teachers and classmates

  3. Eat the right kinds of food

  4. Exercise often

  5. Avoid drugs

  6. Get enough sleep

  7. Visit the doctor regularly to get medical advice related to health and wellness

  8. Be neat and tidy and observe good hygiene

  9. Maintain a positive attitude

  10. Be honest with your parents and relate with them properly

  11. Read more books or browse the web to learn about becoming responsible adolescents
• Adolescents do not progress through these multiple developmental tasks separately. At any given time, adolescents may be dealing with several tasks
• Early adolescence (12-13 yrs old)


  Marked by rapid physical growth and maturation. The focus of the adolescents’ self-concepts is often on their physicality and acceptability. A period of intense conformity to peers. Adolescents strive to get along well with peers and their worst fear is to be seen as “different” by them
• Middle adolescence (14-17 yrs old)


  Marked by the emergence of new thinking skills. The intellectual world of the young person is greatly expanded. Concerns are more directed toward peers while the desire for psychological independence from parents intensifies. Psychological energies are directed toward preparing for adult roles and making preliminary decisions about vocational goals
• Late adolescence (18-21 yrs old)


  Marked with the final preparations for adult roles. The developmental demands often extend into the period known as young adulthood. Confidence and sense of identity are more established and secure. Clearly identified social role and readiness to take on the challenges of adulthood
• General challenges of middle and late adolescence


  • Sexual relationships
  • Peer adjustment
  • Intellectual maturation
  • Vocational choice
• Common problems of Filipino adolescents


  • Attitudes and behaviors toward sexuality and sexual relationship
  • Academic concerns
  • Peer acceptance
  • Health and nutrition
  • Developing or regaining self-esteem
  • Role confusion
  • Material poverty
  • Parents working abroad
  • Career choice
  • Depression
• Managing the demands on adolescents

  1. Choose your friends wisely

  2. Join youth groups and organizations

  3. Stay close to home (if possible)
• Prudent


  Highly necessary to be prudent and vigilant in your engagement with others
• Joining youth groups and organizations

  Provides venues where you can share and enhance your skills, talents, capabilities, and potentials
• Staying close to home


  Western culture lets adolescents be independent and leave at age 18, but strong Filipino family ties keep family members together until they turn adolescents and adults, and in some cases, until they marry and have children
• Engaging in healthy and fun activities


  At the stage of exploration and finding your own identity, part of it is the higher tendency to be more adventurous and experiment on many activities
• Focusing on schools and studies


  While the parents’ primary responsibility is to provide for your education, your primary responsibility is to take your studies seriously
• Including God in your life


  Even if you feel that you have achieved many things in your adolescent life all by yourself
• Concepts on how to become lovable

  • Be light
  • Love yourself
  • Show kindness to everyone
  • Laugh at yourself
  • Show affection
  • Be real
  • Have integrity
• Barrie Davenport: '2015'
• Stress is a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances
• Stress


  A physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and disease. It occurs when you feel you may have lost the capacity to manage your life and its circumstances
• Stressor


  A chemical or biological agent, environmental condition, external stimulus, or an event that causes stress to an organism
• External Stressors


  • Changes in temperature (heat or cold)
  • Stressful psychological environments such as classroom conditions or abusive relationships in school (bullying)
• Internal Stressors


  • Physical ailments such as infection or inflammation
  • Psychological problems
• Adolescents experience stress primarily from homework, school, grades, tests, college, finals week, parents and family expectations, social life, time management, lack of sleep, multitasking, sports, and other factors
• Vulnerability


  Level of susceptibility or tendency to be affected by stressors
• Sources of stress for adolescents

  • School demands and frustrations
  • Negative thoughts and feelings about themselves
  • Changes in their bodies
  • Problems with friends and/or peers in school
  • Unsafe living environment/neighbourhood
  • Separation or divorce of parents
  • Chronic illness or severe problems in the family
  • Death of loved one
  • Moving or changing schools
  • Taking on too many activities or having very high expectations
  • Family financial problems
• Internal mechanism


  Identifies and automatically perceives specific situations as threatening, and the body responds through physical symptoms like increased heart and breathing rates, cold hands and feet, upset stomach, and a sense of dread
• Techniques to cope with stress

  1. Exercise and eat healthy food

  2. Avoid caffeinated drinks, alcohol, drugs, and tobacco

  3. Learn relaxation exercises

  4. Practice responding properly to stressful situations

  5. Learn practical coping skills

  6. Decrease negative self-talk

  7. Learn to feel good about achievements

  8. Avoid perfectionism

  9. Take a break from stressful situations

  10. Establish strong ties with family and friends