Understanding Students Aged

12-17 Years Old

Understanding Students Aged 12-17
Years Old

• Students between the ages of 12-17 may be

as vulnerable as younger children when it
comes to how disasters affect them.
• Disasters may revive old fears depending
on the degree of disruptions experienced
by the students.
Understanding Students Aged 12-17
Years Old

• The Adolescent years are characterized by

physical and physiological changes, peer
pressure, identity exploration, increased
risk-taking behavior and the need for
emotional and psychological independence
from parents.
Understanding Students Aged 12-17
Years Old

• ADOLESCENCE is also a period of

heightened emotions intensified by a
personal fable type of thinking. (they think
that what they are going through is unique
and that no one can understand them.
 Stage of Development
Physical
• Rapid growth spurt – about 3 inches per year for
males and 4 inches per year for females.
• Changes in appearance – more facial and body hair
for males and development of breast for females.
• Brain maturation – the prefrontal cortex, which is
responsible for higher-order decision making
processes, becomes more well-defined.
 Stage of Development
Cognitive
• Imaginary audience type of thinking – this is when
they think that people are always looking at them or
watching their every move.
• Personal fable type of thinking – a belief that what
they experience is unique to them alone and that no
one can understand how they feel or react to these
situations and experiences.
 Stage of Development
Cognitive

• There is an increased need for achievement that is met

through experiencing success at different tasks.
 Stage of Development
Socio-emotional
• There are at the adolescent stage, a stage wherein they
are trying to find out more about who they truly are.
The crisis point, according to Erik Erikson is that of
identity versus identity confusion.
• At times, there is an increase in conflict and rivalry
with siblings due to emerging differences in their
personalities.
 Stage of Development
Socio-emotional
• They experience drops in their levels of self-
esteem brought about by the physical and
emotional changes that are taking place.
• Their relationship with their parents may
change as they choose to be with friends more
than with family.