• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Promotivia

Ideas. Innovation. Excellence.

  • Home
  • Topics
    • Construction
    • Education
    • Family
    • Furniture
    • Health
    • Pet Care
    • Swimming Pool
    • Technology
  • Ask a Question
  • Contact Us

Coping with the Stress of Growing Up

Last updated on May 29, 2012 by Sozo Staff Leave a Comment

As a parent, perhaps you enjoy looking at your own youth through rose-colored glasses. If you take them off and let yourself remember the realities as well as “the good old days,” you’ll probably remember exactly what a landmark research project conducted by the University of Minnesota revealed: “Growing up—negotiating a path between independence and reliance on others—is a tough business.”

Do you remember the hard stuff? Growing up is indeed stressful, even under the most ideal circumstances such as good health, positive family relationships and friendships,  academic success, and financial stability.

According to the Minnesota study, major problems, such as serious depression and suicide attempts, tend to favor adolescents who are “people ill-equipped to cope, communicate and solve problems.” They also accompanied those with at least two life events perceived as negative within the last six months. Here are a few of the most commonly cited blemishes on the faces of their lives:

  • Contention with parents
  • Romantic frustrations
  • Friction between parents
  • Sibling rivalries
  • Illnesses or injuries of loved ones

Just like adults, some teens have trouble coping with conflict and loss, whether that loss is real or perceived. Many are able to cope using positive, healthy strategies such as finding a relaxing hobby or looking to intact friendships and family relationships for support. However, others seem unable to cope well with life’s difficulties. These inherently troubled teens are different from those with ordinarily healthy coping strategies who simply get overwhelmed.

When multiple major life changes and stressors pile up, even healthy teens can lack the maturity to put them in their proper place. According to the Minnesota study, those who attempted suicide had other major events on their mind, such as these:

  • Divorce of parents
  • Transfer to a new school
  • Failing grades
  • Loss of a close friend
  • Personal injury or illness

Even if your child normally exhibits excellent coping mechanisms and has a fabulous support system in place, when these kinds of difficulties come up, he or she may need extra support. Sometimes, that support is something you, as a parent, cannot offer. Your teen needs a good listener who isn’t personally affected by the issues at hand and won’t take offense at negative feelings.

Keep in mind that problem-solving skills don’t come naturally; they need to be taught. If your teen isn’t under major stress, it’s only a matter of time before they’ll be confronted with such opportunities for their coping skills to be tested. In the mean time, you can model such skills by talking them through how you deal with hard times. You may even want to discuss negative coping techniques you’ve used or seen used in the past, and how they have negatively affected lives. By making yourself vulnerable in this way, you can open the door to communication from your teen if or when coping becomes difficult.

Filed Under: Family

Additional Articles

maxtrix chestnut finish wood corner desk loft bed
Growing Up with Maxtrix Kids Furniture
Tips for Making Your Pool Child-Friendly
X10 Home Security Systems Simplify Life
hot tub with leaf skimmer leaning against wall
Basic Safety & Maintenance for Hot Tubs
Amazing Benefits of Pool Ownership, Part 2
half circle swimming pool in backyard at night
Amazing Benefits of Pool Ownership, Part 1

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

four × 3 =

Primary Sidebar

Swimming pools

Popular Articles

  • Expandable Children's Furniture at The Bedroom Source
  • African Mahogany Lumber vs Genuine Mahogany Lumber
  • The City Way: Taking Your Child’s Bed to the Next Level with Maxtrix!
  • Perfect Furniture for a Boy's Bedroom, Pt 1
  • Perfect Furniture for a Boy's Bedroom, Pt 2
  • How Do You Treat Reactive Attachment Disorder?
  • Ultra-Budget-Friendly Swimming Pool Upgrades
  • Why Sleep Is Important for Young Athletes
  • Why Parents Love Jackrabbit Class Management Software
  • Septic System Pumping in Mooresville, North Carolina
Swimming pools

Recent Articles

  • Helpful Tips for a Pet-Friendly Pool
  • How to Keep Your Pool Safe During a Storm
  • Tips for Staying Cool by the Pool, Part 2
  • Tips for Staying Cool by the Pool, Part 1
  • Planning the Perfect Poolside Fire Feature, Part 3
  • Planning the Perfect Poolside Fire Feature, Part 2
  • Planning the Perfect Poolside Fire Feature, Part 1
  • Growing Up with Maxtrix Kids Furniture
  • How a Hot Tub in Your Backyard Can Improve Your Life
  • Is Composite Decking or Tropical Decking Better for Boardwalk Construction? Part 3
Home automation with X10

Recent Comments

  • DSP on Pool Maintenance Tips for Salt Water Pools, Part 1
  • Zachary Tomlinson on Amazing Benefits of Pool Ownership, Part 1
  • Zachary Tomlinson on 3 Types of Pool Covers, 3 Distinct Purposes
  • Afton Jackson on Bathroom Remodeling Ideas: Can You Use Wood in the Bathroom?
  • Alice Carroll on 4 Types of Vinyl Pool Liners
  • Afton Jackson on So You’re Adding an In-Ground Swimming Pool? Here’s What You Can Expect
Swimming pools

Copyright © 2023 Sozo Firm Inc · Privacy Policy · Disclaimer · Sitemap