Adolescence (from Latin: adolescere meaning "to grow up") is a transitional stage of physical and mental human development generally occurring between puberty and legal adulthood (age of majority), but may also be defined as ending with the teenage stage. According to Erik Erikson's stages of human development, for example, a young adult is generally a person between the ages of 20 and 40, whereas an adolescent is a person between the ages of 13 and 19. Historically, puberty has been heavily associated with teenagers and the onset of adolescent development. However, the start of puberty has had somewhat of an increase in preadolescence (particularly females, as seen with early and precocious puberty), and adolescence has had an occasional extension beyond the teenage years (typically males) compared to previous generations. These changes have made it more difficult to rigidly define the time frame in which adolescence occurs.

The end of adolescence and the beginning of adulthood varies by country and by function, and furthermore even within a single nation-state or culture there can be different ages at which an individual is considered to be (chronologically and legally) mature enough to be entrusted by society with certain tasks. Such milestones include, but are not limited to, driving a vehicle, having legal sexual relations, serving in the armed forces or on a jury, purchasing and drinking alcohol, voting, entering into contracts, completing certain levels of education, and marrying.

Adolescence is usually accompanied by an increased independence allowed by the parents or legal guardians and less supervision, contrary to the preadolescence stage.

Teenagers (or adolescents) are human beings in the transitional stage of physical and mental human development that occurs between childhood and adulthood.

Sourced

• If God wanted teenagers to be abstinent, puberty would begin at twenty.
  • Jacob Appel, American playwright, The Replacement (2006)

• If a 16-year-old can enjoy sex responsibly - using birth control, taking measures to prevent the spread of disease - and he or she wishes to add sexual pleasure to the rich tapestry of adolescent life, why shouldn't we encourage that individual to do so?
  • Jacob M. Appel, Embracing Teenage Sexuality: Let's Rethink the Age of Consent, January 1, 2010.

• Teenagers are smart. They understand that sex can be pleasurable and that it can enhance the intimacy of their relationships. Telling them otherwise -- by insisting, for example, that "sex is for adults only" -- defies their lived reality.
  • Jacob M. Appel, Embracing Teenage Sexuality: Let's Rethink the Age of Consent, January 1, 2010.

• As a teenager you are at the last stage in your life when you will be happy to hear that the phone is for you.
  • Fran Lebowtitz, Social Studies

See also

• Children