Stress can be beneficial in small doses, but too much can result in emotional, physical and social trouble. With the changes occurring in a teenager's body and mind, along with peer pressure, school and possible problems at home, stress is a predominant part of teen life. Unfortunately, teenagers do not always have the knowledge or maturity to deal with stress without exhibiting some degree of poor behavior.
Stressors
Normal stress levels are not necessarily a bad thing; but when a teenager is confronted with everyday stressors as well as abnormal occurrences, bad behavior could be a consequence. Some examples of situations that elicit abnormal stress levels are teen pregnancy, the death or illness of a parent or caregiver, changes in the family's financial situation and a bad relationship or break-up.
School and Peers
While school, in itself, can be stressful for teens, the way they interact with teachers and peers can be indicative of how badly stress is affecting them. A teen who is overstressed may argue with and have more problems with classmates and teachers. A decline in participation in school-related activities and lower grades could also be an indication that something is bothering your teenager. Sometimes, an adolescent who is dealing with an overabundance of stress will abandon longtime friends for peers with a more negative set of behaviors.
Family
Because it is typical for young people to spend more time with friends than parents during their teen years, it is sometimes difficult for a parent to witness extreme behavioral issues brought on by stress. However, there are some things to look out for. Even though arguments are a common occurrence between teens and their parents, extreme hostility toward family members and a complete avoidance of parents could be an indication of being overly stressed.
Delinquency
When a teenager does not know how to handle an overload of stressful stimuli, simple bad behavior could turn into delinquency. Delinquent acts are those that are illegal or even criminal. According to the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, trauma causes stress and is directly related to juvenile delinquency. Some teenagers may respond to extreme stress with excessive drug and alcohol abuse, truancy, violence or crime.
Ways to Cope
Many teenagers who have adequate information about stress have beneficial coping strategies. By contrast, teens who lack that information could adopt negative ways to cope. While there is extensive literature on the Internet concerning stress management mechanisms, parents and other authority figures can still be helpful. Some examples of ways to help your teenager deal with stress are to learn and model stress management skills, watch for overloading and support positive social activities.
References
- Troubled Teen 101: Teen Stress
- University of Minnesota Extension; "Adolescent Stress and Depression"; Joyce Walker, 2002
- American Psychological Association: Identifying Signs of Stress in Your Children and Teens
- American Academy for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; Helping Teenagers with Stress; May 2005
- National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges: 10 Key Principles
