What is happening with older adolescents relating to others?

• Most continue to pursue acceptance by  peers; many find acceptance by a select peer group most important.
• Peer groups consume a majority of waking hours for many.
• Leadership qualities begin to mature as opportunities for development are provided.
• Most late teens relate to both same-sex and opposite-sex friendships, with opposite-sex relationships concentrating on one-to-one relationships.
• Some continue to avoid communication with others.
• Relationships with adults vary from conflict to friendship. Authority becomes personified in adults (many times in parents) and, for many, becomes a threat to personal freedom.
• Independence grows in importance; adults and adolescents begin to formulate person-to-person relationships to replace child-adult relationships.
• Adult models and heroes remain important; many become more involved in a more realistic profile of their heroes, especially as they project their own independent lifestyle.
• Many continue to accept established stereotypes; many reject stereotypes in an attempt to gain independence and to establish new lifestyles.

Therefore, an effective program with older adolescents must

• Spend time and energy developing a sense of community.
• Provide opportunities for positive adult youth interaction.
• Include adults who are willing to work with young people as partners.\
• Enable adolescents to assume  leadership roles.
• Work to question stereotypes and lifestyle issues.
• Help adolescents develop healthy one-to-one same-sex and opposite-sex relationships.

What is happening with older adolescents and family?

• Conflict with parents can become more intense as each young person continues to establish his or her own identity.
• In the last years of high school, parent-youth relationships may mellow.
• Some young people begin to form their own families through engagement, marriage, and the birth of children.
• Peer relationships and school activities become more and more important for many, leaving less time for family. School athletics take on great significance for some.

Therefore, an effective program with older adolescents must

• Provide opportunities for positive family interaction.
• Include parents in the program.
• Enable young people to view their future as family members and possible parents realistically.
• Begin to teach parenting skills.
• Help young people and parents as the parent-child relationship changes dramatically.

What is happening with older adolescents and physical changes?

• Some mature later than others and experience rapid growth during the late teens.
• Growth begins to level off, and many begin to accept their own bodies.
• Strength and coordination become more manageable and reliable.
• Physical appearance continues to be a matter of concern.
• Adolescents continue to experience later stages of puberty; some catch up with others during this period of growth.
• Sexual interests continue to grow, with fantasies and experimentation becoming more frequent.

Therefore, an effective program with older adolescents must

• Help them develop a healthy attitude toward their body.
• Enable them to cope with their sexuality responsibly. Continue to educate them about the changes they are experiencing.

What is happening with older adolescents and faith development?

• Some are just now beginning to raise questions about religion.
• Many adolescents are attempting to put the pieces together for themselves.
• Some adolescents have begun to relate religious information and to deal with concerns caused by conflicts and lifestyles.

Therefore, an effective program with older adolescents must

• Continue to raise questions about their faith.
• Challenge them to articulate what they believe.
• Provide opportunities to apply faith to real world issues and situations.

What is happening with older adolescents and intellectual development and learning?

• Late teens are more able to think abstractly and globally.
• Reading levels still vary greatly; many cannot write coherently.
• Electronic media continue to be important for educating.
• More are able to concentrate for slightly longer periods of time.

Therefore, an effective program with older adolescents must

• Challenge them to think in abstractions.
• Broaden their perspectives to include the whole church, community, and world.
• Depend heavily on visual aids and the electronic media to convey messages.
• Provide opportunities for intense discussions and concentration.

What is happening with older adolescents and self-concept/self-esteem?

• Anxiety continues for many, but others begin to accept and concretize their personal identity and to accept their adequacy.
• Most adolescents will have established a role model that may or may not be continued in the future.
• The search for sexual identity continues.
• Many young people of color become personally concerned with racial/ethnic empowerment and cultural awareness.

Therefore, an effective program with older adolescents must

• Continue to provide a safe place where they may cope with anxieties about sexual identity, personal inadequacy, and racial/ethnic identity.
• Affirm each individual as a child of God.
• Enable adolescents to develop a healthy self-concept.
• Provide positive adult role models.

What is happening with older adolescents' characteristic behaviors?

• Most are settled, some to the degree of experiencing boredom in groups.
• Most are able to concentrate for longer periods of time and enjoy discussions that allow them to express their own ideas.
• Most are willing to experiment, but many express reserve.
• Many continue to appear spontaneous, unpredictable, and flighty.
• Many are willing to take on responsibility and are capable of managing difficult tasks.
• Music interests continue; some participate in their own groups.
• Some continue to be avid television watchers, but many are too busy with other activities.
• Drug use becomes more widespread.
• Alcohol and tobacco use continues, and some become champions against their use.

Therefore, an effective program with older adolescents must

• Include new and interesting approaches and teaching methods.
• Depend heavily on group discussions.
• Provide opportunities to assume responsibilities within the group.
• Help to relieve rather than create more stress in young people's lives by providing a strong community that is comfortable and yet challenging.
• Include referral and counseling services for drug and alcohol abusers.