Adolescence is the phase of life between childhood and adulthood, usually between the ages of 10 and 19 years.
Adolescence is a period of rapid physical, emotional, cognitive, and social development.
There is considerable variability in the pace of adolescent development, and chronological age may be a poor indicator of physical, physiologic, and emotional maturity.
Most teenagers complete puberty by age 16–18 years.
The developmental passage from childhood to adulthood includes the following steps: (1) completing puberty and somatic growth; (2) developing socially, emotionally, and cognitively, and moving from concrete to abstract thinking; (3) establishing an independent identity and separating from the family; and (4) preparing for a career or vocation.1
References
1. Sass AE, Richards MJ. Adolescence. In: Bunik M, Hay WW, Levin MJ, Abzug MJ. eds. Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Pediatrics, 26e. McGraw-Hill Education; 2022. Accessed October 16, 2024. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=3163§ionid=266214436