Risks of psychosocial development in adolescence

Czech version

Authors: Jana Kocourková; Jiří Koutek
Authors‘ workplace: Dětská psychiatrická klinika, 2. lékařská fakulta, Univerzita Karlova a FN Motol, Praha
Published in: Čes-slov Pediat 2025; 80 (3): 132-135.
Category: adolescent health
doi: https://doi.org/10.55095/CSPediatrie2025/015

Overview

Kocourková J, Koutek J. Risks of psychosocial development in adolescence

The adolescent developmental period represents a stage of transition from childhood to adulthood. This process is influenced by biological changes and psychosocial influences resulting from the family, peer environment and broader sociocultural circumstances. Adolescents face developmental tasks towards achieving their own autonomy and finding their “place in the sun”. Developmental complications can manifest themselves in particular in emotionally unstable experiences, narcissistic imbalance and instability of close relationships, and self-destructive behavior. The spectrum of problems can be described at one end of the spectrum as common adolescent instability (adolescent crisis), at the other end of the spectrum as disordered personality development, which can already be clinically described as emotionally unstable – borderline personality disorder. The greater representation of adolescent girls in the area of these problems is often associated with early biological puberty, the influence of social networks and the norms they present, and traumatization in close relationships. Current approaches are more optimistic about possible positive changes during further development in adulthood and try to create specific psychotherapeutic programs for these patients. The approach of pediatricians, focused on the family of an adolescent with difficulties in managing communication with them, can be of significant help – supporting the family and motivating them to further psychiatric and psychotherapeutic care.

Keywords:

adolescence – psychosocial risk factors – emotional instability

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