Adolescence is the period of transition between childhood and adulthood, and it is a unique stage of human development that includes rapid physical, cognitive, and psychosocial growth. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), adolescence is the phase of life between childhood and adulthood, from ages 10 to 19. However, some societies understand adolescence in broader terms that encompass psychological, social, and moral terrain as well as the strictly physical aspects of maturation, and in these societies, the term adolescence typically refers to the period between ages 12 and 20 and is roughly equivalent to the word teens.
Adolescents experience significant changes in their bodies, thoughts, feelings, and interactions with others. During this phase, they establish patterns of behavior related to diet, physical activity, substance use, and sexual activity that can protect their health and the health of others around them or put their health at risk now and in the future. Adolescents also experience an upsurge of sexual feelings following the latent sexuality of childhood, and it is during adolescence that they learn to control and direct sexual urges.
In summary, adolescence is the phase of life between childhood and adulthood, from ages 10 to 19, according to the WHO. However, some societies understand adolescence in broader terms that encompass psychological, social, and moral terrain as well as the strictly physical aspects of maturation, and in these societies, the term adolescence typically refers to the period between ages 12 and 20 and is roughly equivalent to the word teens. Adolescents experience significant changes in their bodies, thoughts, feelings, and interactions with others, and they establish patterns of behavior related to diet, physical activity, substance use, and sexual activity that can protect their health and the health of others around them or put their health at risk now and in the future.
