Kids' Mental Health What Is the Storm and Stress View of Adolescence? Why the teen years can be such a roller coaster By Cynthia Vinney, PhD Cynthia Vinney, PhD Cynthia Vinney, PhD is an expert in media psychology and a published scholar whose work has been published in peer-reviewed psychology journals. Learn about our editorial process Updated on August 22, 2024 Learn more." tabindex="0" data-inline-tooltip="true"> Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Akeem Marsh, MD Medically reviewed by Akeem Marsh, MD Akeem Marsh, MD, is a board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist who has dedicated his career to working with medically underserved communities. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Lock Stock / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents History of the Concept Components Why Does Storm and Stress Happen? Criticism Supporting Your Children Trending Videos Close this video player The storm and stress view of adolescence suggests the years between the ages of 11 and 19 are a time of emotional and behavioral challenges. Conflicts with parents and other authority figures, disruptions in mood, and increased participation in risk-taking activities are just a few examples. The concept has been the subject of much debate among psychologists and developmental scientists. Are the teen years inherently a time of storm and stress, or should we take a more nuanced view of this developmental period? At a Glance Without a doubt, a lot of change is going on during the tween and teen years. Changing bodies, social challenges, parental pressures, social media, and planning for the future can all weigh on an adolescent's mind. Some psychologists suggest that emotional and behavioral upheaval is expected during this time, while others argue that the moodiness, impulsivity, and other challenges of the teen years are not universal. Learning more about this developmental period can help parents and other adults better understand how to help tweens, teens, and young adults cope with challenges they may face—and get extra help if needed. History of Storm and Stress American psychologist G. Stanley Hall coined the term "storm and stress" in 1904 to describe the emotional turmoil and behavioral difficulties of "adolescence," which he also coined. The Term Storm and Stress Is Derived From German Literature While Hall was the first to explicitly consider storm and stress in adolescence, philosophers, artists, and others, including Aristotle and Socrates, had commented on the emotional and behavioral distinctiveness of adolescence since ancient times. In fact, the term Hall used to describe this period was borrowed from the German 18th-century literary genre known as "sturm and drang," which depicted the angst of teenagers and roughly translates to "storm and stress" in English. Did Everyone Agree With This Concept? Hall's ideas about storm and stress were extremely influential in both the scientific community and the general public, leading to the popular belief that the disturbances of adolescence were universal. However, not all scholars agreed with the concept: Anthropologists like Margaret Mead observed that non-Western adolescents didn’t experience a period of storm and stress. Psychoanalysts have championed the idea of storm and stress, with Anna Freud even suggesting that adolescents who don’t experience storm and stress are at risk for psychopathy. More recently, many scholars have argued for a modified version of the storm and stress view of adolescence where storm and stress is no longer considered inevitable. However, this view also suggests that if emotional and behavioral problems are going to occur, they are more likely to occur during adolescence than other life stages. What Are the Components of Storm and Stress? While adolescent storm and stress can consist of many emotional and behavioral issues, such as challenges with self-image, scholars consistently discuss three key components: Conflict with parentsMood disruptionsRisk-taking behavior Conflict With Parents Conflict with parents and other authority figures increases at the beginning of adolescence, with the greatest frequency of conflicts happening in early adolescence and the most intense conflicts happening in mid-adolescence. Hall suggested this was at least partially the result of the incompatibility between adolescents’ increased desire for independence and parents' desire to continue to protect their children, who they still see as too young for the independence they crave. While increases in conflict can be difficult for both adolescents and their parents and coincide with declines in emotional closeness and the time parents and children spend together, there is a great deal of individual difference in the degree of conflict parents and children experience. Adolescents who are depressed, having issues like substance abuse, and early-maturing girls tend to have the most conflict with their parents. However, in general, parent-child conflict during adolescence doesn't have a lasting negative impact on these relationships. Mood Disruptions Adolescents often experience mood disruptions, including more negative moods, more extreme moods, and more frequent mood changes than children and adults. Adolescents are also more likely to feel embarrassed, awkward, lonely, and nervous than adults. Moreover, although the tendency toward negative mood peaks during mid-adolescence for many people, adolescence has also been established as a key period in the development of mental health issues. Depression is most likely to start during adolescence, often leading to life-long mental health symptoms. In addition, half of all mental health disorders start by the age of 14, and three-fourths begin by the age of 24. Mood disruptions during adolescence are more likely in those who are less popular with their peers, don’t do well in school, and experience family discord, such as the divorce of their parents. Risk-Taking Behavior Risk-taking behavior, including illegal activity, drug and alcohol use, risky driving, and risky sexual activity, tends to peak in late adolescence or the early 20s (which some suggest could be considered a period of extended adolescence). Yet, although many adolescents are likely to engage in risk-taking behavior at least once or twice, rates of risk-taking behavior vary based on individual differences, including levels of traits like sensation seeking and impulsivity. Children who engage in problematic behavior are more likely to grow into adolescents who engage in risk-taking behavior. Why Does Storm and Stress Happen? Storm and stress happens during a period of rapid physical, psychological, and social changes for adolescents. Not only does adolescence coincide with the onset of puberty, but adolescents are also facing many other changes, including: Being given more independence and autonomy in school and at home Dating for the first time Taking on increasingly adult responsibilities, such as caring for younger siblings or older family members and working their first job Adolescents Start Thinking About Their Future Plus, this is the time when adolescents start seriously contemplating their future, including the kinds of careers and relationships they'd like to have in adulthood. These changes combine to contribute to the storm and stress of adolescence. Puberty Biology plays a role, with the hormonal changes of puberty contributing to mood disruptions, including more negative moods and mood swings. Cognitive Changes Similarly, cognitive changes like greater activation in the brain areas associated with social emotions lead to greater feelings of embarrassment and guilt. Meanwhile, evidence suggests that teens are more likely to engage in risk-taking behavior when their peers encourage it. That's because, during this developmental period, they have greater sensitivity in the reward-processing area of the brain. Changes in the brain during adolescence also lead to a greater capacity for emotional arousal while the capacity to regulate that arousal develops more slowly, resulting in a greater likelihood of mood disruptions. What's more, biological changes during adolescence don't happen in isolation. They are influenced by the environment and by individual differences. For example, less supportive and harsher interactions with family have been associated with girls starting their period at an earlier age. Likewise, individual differences dictate how adolescents will respond to and interpret their experiences. Criticism of the Storm and Stress Concept While the idea is popular with the general public, the concept of adolescent storm and stress has been the source of considerable debate within the scientific community. Parents May Become More Controlling Some scholars have concerns that the public acceptance of storm and stress may lead parents to become more controlling in order to try to avoid these issues. This can then backfire and create more strife and conflict. Some experts fear that believing in this idea may also lead some parents to ignore red flags. Instead of seeking professional help when their child exhibits symptoms of a mood, anxiety, or other condition, they simply attribute it to normal teenage strife. This means that many kids might not get the help they really need. Adolescents May Be Placed in Treatment for Normal Developmental Behavior Yet, other scholars believe if the storm and stress view is dismissed, more adolescents will be pathologized (in other words, treated differently as if they're 'abnormal') and put into treatment for normal adolescent behavior. Some Think 'Storm and Stress' Concept Is Outdated At the same time, other scholars believe the storm and stress view of adolescence should be abandoned entirely, arguing that it views adolescence from an adult perspective. These scholars suggest a more comprehensive, nuanced view of adolescent development should be adopted that doesn’t rely on adult norms and instead focuses on the norms of adolescence. How Parents & Guardians Can Support Adolescents Many scholars agree that even though not all adolescents will experience storm and stress, the likelihood is greatly increased during this time. Although adolescents often spend more time with peers than parents, it’s important for parents and other adults to remember that they still have an important role in their kids’ lives. Foster a Low-Stress Environment Providing a supportive family environment with minimal stress is one way that parents can help. Furthermore parents, teachers, and other adults can help adolescents through this time by instilling specific ways of thinking and coping in them. In particular, adults can help children develop tools for handling stress, such as: Active problem-solving Emotional regulation Looking at situations more positively Encouraging adolescents to develop strong friendships instead of focusing on how their friends view them These skills can protect adolescents against some of the greatest stresses of this stage of development. Those who learn these skills are able to more successfully manage stress, become less physiologically aroused when stressed, and are less likely to become depressed. Takeaways Adolescence is a time of change and growth, but it can also be a period of strife. The storm and stress model suggests that kids go through a period of emotional and behavioral upheaval. Factors like puberty, conflict with parents, and cognitive changes can all play a role in these disruptions. Learning more about what to expect during these years can help you best support your child as they manage challenges. If you notice that your child is struggling with their mental health, it's best to consult a mental healthcare professional who can assess your child's health. 10 Signs Your Teen Is Stressed Out 8 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. 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