Adolescence

Global healthIn the vast and multifaceted landscape of global health, the... More goals specifically consider the educational emergencyThe term “educational emergency” refers to a situation i... More of adolescence, exacerbated by health, geopolitical, social, and environmental crises. Adolescence is a stage of life naturally characterized by sensitivity and instability, caused by the physical and hormonal changes of puberty. Strong emotional swings are frequent, as are insecurities due to an identity still in development. During this transitional period, it is essential to educate young people in emotional intelligenceThe first definition of Emotional Intelligence as such was p... More, awareness, and self-regulation. Equally important is enhancing adolescent resources through projects that value the thoughts, ideas, and emotions of young people, giving them voice and significance.

Central to adolescent well-being is the role of the family, which should be supported in embracing change and experimenting with new ways of communicating effectively. Alongside the family, the peer group plays a fundamental role in adolescence, which is naturally driven by the instinctWhat is instinct and why does it continue to guide us even i... More for social exploration. School becomes the valuable hinge between family and society, capable of mediating between guidance and the necessary space for self-determinationL’autodeterminazione in psicologia si riferisce alla capac... More.

Adolescence is also the time for the discovery of sexualityScientific studies on sexuality encompass various dimensions... More, which must be accompanied by awareness of listening and respect as fundamental components of intimacy.

What is adolescence

Adolescence is the transitional period from childhood to adulthood. This transition can be characterized differently depending on the perspective adopted, whether physiological, psychological, cultural, or an interaction of these. The beginning of adolescence coincides with the onset of puberty, i.e., the development of sexual characteristics. This brings significant changes in hormone production, which in turn trigger transformations in the adolescent’s body.

Conventionally, the onset of puberty is placed at 10–11 years for girls and 13 years for boys, although naturally, variations can occur. Rapid bodily changes trigger several delicate psychological processes related to personal identity. These processes are interpreted differently depending on the cultural context.

Data on mental healthAccording to the World Health Organization, mental health ca... More indicate an emergency regarding adolescents’ psychological distress. A collective prevention effort is needed to enhance the resources of young people, parents, and educators and to cultivate global health, emotional literacy, and awareness of healthy lifestyles from a young age.

The three stages of adolescence

Adolescence is generally placed in the second decade of life. Some characteristics may appear earlier and/or persist beyond this period. The adolescent decade is divided into three stages:

1. Early adolescence (10–12 years): this stage coincides with the onset of puberty and rapid physical growth. These bodily changes are accompanied by a search for greater independence in family relationships and new development of abstract thinking. There may also be the emergence of the search for personal identity.
2. Middle adolescence (13–15 years): during this stage, pubertal development is completed. Risk behaviors may begin: the pursuit of experimentation and limits, such as substance abuse, early sexual activity, and, generally, conflictual relations with adults. The development of a personal identity is related to differentiation by contrast and the search for role models to emulate.
3. Late adolescence (16–20 years): the final phase leading into adult life, with interest in social integration, reduction of conflict, and usually the cessation of risk behaviors.

Adolescence between challenges and resources

Adolescence is a developmental stage where profound transformations occur in a relatively short time, due to particular physiological conditions. It is therefore a transitional moment with all the opportunities and uncertainties this entails, for physical, emotional, and cognitive development, as well as identity formation. Strong emotional fluctuations, influenced by hormones, can lead to risky behaviors, addictions, or motivational surges.

Adolescence is a time of great challenges and resources, which also shape the adult of tomorrow. Adolescents begin to consolidate traits that will accompany them throughout life. During this period, transformations occur more easily and in diverse directions than in later years. There is a strong drive for creativity to carve out a personal space in adult life.

Body, nutrition, and movement

The first challenge of adolescence is related to body changes. Puberty brings significant transformations, with the development of primary and secondary sexual characteristics. These changes may occur suddenly and can cause concern or embarrassment. Adolescents witnessing their changing bodies feel a parallel pressure to conform to society’s often unrealistic beauty ideals. Amplified by media and social networks, these unreachable standards can lead to dissatisfaction or inadequacy. Comparison with peers, including appearance, is constant and can exacerbate insecurity. A conflictual relationship with one’s body can foster eating disorders and body dysmorphia, with a distorted perception of appearance. This relationship may be further strained by body shaming, i.e., judgments and criticism of physical appearance.

It is necessary to educate adolescents on healthy nutrition, meditation, and movement, to cultivate health and a positive relationship with their body. Globally, more than 80% of adolescents do not meet WHO-recommended physical activity levels. Sports are a valuable element for their well-being, especially when practiced outdoors and in groups, as they improve mood through endorphin release, reduce stressFrom a clinical point of view, stress is a physiological and... More, and enhance social relationships and happinessHappiness represents an emotional state characterized by pos... More. WHO recommends at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous daily activity for adolescents.

Emotion regulation

Adolescence is often marked by intense “emotional storms,” sometimes difficult for adults to understand or manage. The roots of this heightened emotionality are related to brain development, which is not fully complete during adolescence. In particular, areas associated with executive functions—responsible for emotional control, self-soothing, decision-making, prioritization, and organizing thoughts—are still developing. These executive functionsThe term 'executive functions' refers to a set of mental pro... More are only fully matured after age twenty. Educating adolescents in emotion regulation, for instance through meditationThere are many ways to define meditation, but perhaps the si... More and self-awarenessThe term self-awareness (sometimes used as a synonym for sel... More development, is therefore essential.

Identity and self-esteem

Central to adolescence is identity formation. The body naturally becomes part of the new adult identity, which is simultaneously created and differentiated from the child identity. Identity construction is a complex, multidimensional process involving many aspects of adolescent life. Beyond bodily development, maturation of prefrontal brain areas allows identity building. The development of abstract thinking and awareness enables gradual reflection on one’s place in the world. Adolescents can experiment with new roles through experiences and friendships, gaining deeper self-knowledge and understanding desires. This exploration strengthens self-esteemThe term self-esteem literally refers to the evaluation of o... More, the ability to recognize one’s value and positive resources. LearningThe term learning—with the synonyms to learn, assimilate, ... More to treat oneself with kindness, self-understanding, and acceptance is fundamental for developing self-esteem.

Parents and friends

Building a renewed identity necessarily involves autonomy and independence from parents and authority figures. Distance from adult role models can cause misunderstandings and conflicts. It is essential to care for parent-child communication, focusing not only on words. Gestures and nonverbal and paraverbal language can protect and strengthen the family connectionConnection: the human need that precedes all technology Conn... More on the path to maturity. Adolescents naturally seek emancipation from parents and nearby adults, favoring peers and new role models. This social attention shift is essential for exploring the world and developing maturity and identity.

During this developmental phase, the peer group is very important for interaction and growth. Good friendships provide emotional support and foster social skillsThe relational core of emotional competence When we talk abo... More that are essential in adulthood. Peer groups contribute to identity formation and influence self-esteem and well-being.

The discovery of sexuality

Adolescence marks the gradual discovery of sexuality, linked to physical, emotional, and social development. Physically, this drive stems from the development of sexual characteristics during puberty and hormonal changes. During this growth period, adolescents begin exploring instincts and desires, starting to perceive sexual orientation and gender identity. The first romantic and intimate relationships emerge. In this delicate context, it is essential to educate adolescents about respect, consent, mindfulness, and prevention of sexually transmitted infections.

Bullying

A particularly frequent dysfunctional dynamic among youth and adolescents is bullyingAlthough there is no universally agreed-upon definition of b... More. This is a threatening and aggressive behavior perpetrated by one or more individuals against one or more victims. The phenomenon has three components: intentionality, power imbalance, and repetition. Bullying can be physical, verbal, psychological, or conducted digitally via social networks, in which case it is called cyberbullyingCyberbullying is the enactment via the internet of behaviors... More. Bullying is a serious phenomenon that can deeply harm the victim, not only physically. It can lead to school dropout‘School dropout’ refers to the phenomenon in which a you... More, isolation, and psychological trauma. Bullying negatively affects the entire group—perpetrator, victim, bystanders, and family—impacting behavior and relationships. Preventive action on youth aggression is essential, through awareness projects, support, and strengthening emotional intelligence skills.

Addictions

The immature brain and executive functions typical of adolescents contribute to a certain vulnerability to addictions, such as internet or substance abuse. Adolescents may dangerously see addictionDrug addictions are not simply personal “vices,” but gen... More as a quick and easy solution to psychological distress. Furthermore, addiction can be facilitated by their natural tendency to seek rewarding experiences, due to a particularly active reward systemThe reward system, also called the gratification system, ref... More. Peer groups and the desire to belong also play key roles in the development of addictions. It is essential to educate adolescents to discover new functional strategies to face life challenges and find healthy avenues for gratification and satisfaction.

Adolescent mental health

According to the report Child and Adolescent Mental Health (Unicef, 2024), 13% of children and adolescents up to age 19 suffer from mental distress. Between 15 and 19, the percentage rises to 19%, with 8% experiencing anxietyAnxiety is an emotional response characterized by feelings o... More and 4% depressionDepression is a disorder characterized by persistent sadness... More. Psychological distress can even lead to suicide, accounting for 17% of deaths in the 15–19 age group. The study emphasizes the urgency of multisectoral and interdisciplinary strategies to protect youth mental health, with increased funding for research and projects that provide tools and awareness, overcoming the stigmaStigma towards mental health can be defined as prejudice and... More of psychological distress.

Shaping the Future

The Patrizio Paoletti Foundation has created Shaping the Future, a free program offering concrete educational tools, based on the latest and most innovative neuroscientific and pedagogical discoveries. These tools can be immediately used by parents, educators, social workers, helping professionals, and teachers. The project is accredited by MIUR and entirely carried out by Fondazione Patrizio Paoletti, a non-profit research entity active for over 20 years in education and didactics. The project addresses the educational emergency affecting children, pre-adolescents, and adolescents. The program strengthens positive individual resources to increase resilienceAccording to the American Psychological Association, resilie... More (the ability to transform pain and challenges into growth opportunities) and enhance emotional management skills through effective communication.

Pedagogy for the Third Millennium

Patrizio Paoletti dedicated a pedagogical narrative text to adolescence entitled “Discovering Emotions – The Eyes of an Adolescent Meet the World.” It is the second volume of a trilogy, which also includes: “When Learning is Easy,” dedicated to childhood, and “Life in Your Hands,” dedicated to the transition to adult life. In “Discovering Emotions,” Paoletti uses concrete examples to guide us through the various aspects of this delicate stage of adolescence. Here is an excerpt from the preface, Communication at the Center:

“As an educator of my two wonderful children and as a communicator giving hundreds of lectures worldwide each year on the need to learn to communicate and the most effective ways to do so, I felt it necessary to write a text on adolescence that sends a positive message to families, a signal of proactivity to all humanity. The strong message I want to convey is that everything is education: every gesture, every breathBreathing is a natural and physiological process that suppli... More.

It is therefore necessary, to safely navigate the course everyone desires for themselves and their child,

to learn to communicate; to learn to act as an attentive guide to one’s own manifest behavior, making it intentional to provide oriented and guiding signals at every moment of life. Adolescents’ education starts at zero years, when a child absorbs every message and behavior from their parents. It is between zero and twelve years that the happy adolescent of tomorrow is built.”