Analyzing the Intricacies of Developmental Patterns in Adolescents- A Systematic Review of the Existing Literature

Abstract

“Adolescence” is a dynamically evolving theoretical construct informed through physiologic, psychosocial, temporal, and cultural lenses. This critical developmental period is conventionally understood as the years between the onset of puberty and the establishment of social independence (Steinberg, 2014). The most commonly used chronologic definition of adolescence includes the ages of 10-18 but may incorporate a span of 9 to 26 years depending on the source (APA, 2002). Inconsistencies in the inclusion criteria of “adolescence”, and adolescent sub-stages, can create confusion in the construction of adolescent research and adolescent program planning. Although an appreciation for developmental variability is imperative when discussing adolescence, there is an equal necessity for conceptual clarity. This article explores the developmental foundation for definitions of adolescence, identifies commonly used chronologic parameters, and posits a theoretically consistent chronology of adolescence and adolescent sub-stages for use in research and program development.