Positive adolescence

Abstract

In recent decades, adolescence has become one of the stages of the life cycle that has aroused most interest, both among researchers and intervention professionals, as evidenced by the large number of publications, congresses and conferences dealing with this developmental period. The reasons for this interest are diverse, although it is perhaps worth highlighting the enormous social concern caused by some of the problems that have a greater incidence in the years following puberty, such as substance abuse, unwanted pregnancies, disruptive behavior in secondary school classrooms or antisocial behavior. Indeed, without being tempted to present a dramatic and sensationalist image of this stage, there is sufficient data from studies carried out in various countries to indicate that during adolescence, risky behaviors increase, emotional instability is greater and conflicts between parents and children are more frequent. The reasons for these difficulties are closely related to the transitional nature of this stage, which is subject to numerous changes and the assumption of new roles by boys and girls. But we must also highlight the impact on adolescent development of many of the social, economic, technological and demographic transformations that our country, and the countries around us, are facing.