Adolescence is considered a period in which various physical changes and developments are experienced. However, not only physical changes are experienced during adolescence, the adolescent individual is prepared for adulthood by experiencing many biological, psychological, mental and social changes (Ocakçı, 2015; cited in Özçelik and Şahin, 2016)
The beginning of adolescence is related to gender and differs between individuals. Although early growth and development have positive effects on the mental health of boys, it can cause problems in keeping up with their peers in girls, and it has effects such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders and low self-esteem (Arıkan et al. 2013; Behrman et al. 2000). ; Ocakçı, 2015; cited in Özçelik and Şahin, 2016). In the context of social relations, the social skills that the adolescent learns during childhood enable him to establish good relations with the people around him during adolescence. For this reason, the family relationships, friendships and school experiences of the adolescent individual are very important (Steinberg, 2013; Yavuzer, 2013; cited in Özçelik & Şahin, 2016)
What are Emotional Needs in Adolescence?
In all societies around the world, individuals entering adolescence have similar characteristics. Emotional enthusiasm and outbursts, the need for attention, the need for attention, or the relationships that are easily established and broken down, which we observe in our children and sometimes affect us, are actually observed in many adolescents (Yavuzer, 2013; cited in Özçelik & Şahin, 2016)
In line with the aforementioned effects, some emotional needs emerge with the onset of adolescence. For example, when it comes to this period, the adolescent wants to gain prestige and status. The social harmony he experiences with his relationships with family and other people ensures that this need is met. In addition, they aim to fulfill their need to take responsibility and be independent with the activities they carry out with their peers (Ocakçı, 2015; Yavuzer, 2013; cited in Özçelik & Şahin, 2016). During this period, they may attach more importance to their relationships with their peers and tend to question their family's thoughts and rebel. ideas of their parents They experience mixed feelings between obeying their parents or being independent (Behrman et al., 2000; Ocakçı, 2015; cited in Özçelik & Şahin, 2016).
When they reach the middle of adolescence, between the ages of 15-17 Adolescent individuals search for a personality suitable for them, their belief that they can do anything is strengthened, and they want to make peer relationships on the opposite sex (Hockenberry, 2011; Ocakçı, 2015; cited in Özçelik & Şahin, 2016). When they reach the late adolescence between the ages of 18-21, they feel that they have reached the maturity to make their own decisions and make their own choices, so the attitudes of the parents should not be intrusive. When it comes to this period, individual relationships begin to gain more importance, relationships with the opposite sex include long-term love and good agreement (Ocakçı, 2015; cited in Özçelik & Şahin, 2016)
How Parents Differentiate These Needs Gives and Meets?
There are many factors that affect the social-emotional development level and needs of the adolescent individual. These are quite diverse, such as the personality structure of the individual, gender, age, intelligence level, number of siblings and position here, size of the family, family and friend relations, culture in which he was brought up, and economic situation. Family is one of the most important factors affecting emotional factors (Ahmetoğlu, 2009; Baran, 2009; cited in Durualp, 2014).
Although adolescent individuals display rebellious attitudes and emotional outbursts against their parents during adolescence, the child's ability to cope with his/her emotions He needs his parents. Parents should also be aware of this without being influenced by the situation they live in. If the child does not receive emotional support from their parents or experiences negative experiences such as scolding, insults, and ignorance, they may become alienated, suppress or ignore their own feelings in the future. Children who have positive experiences with their parents, for example, are listened to effectively, are allowed to express their ideas and thoughts, and in a family environment where these ideas are valued, are more successful in recognizing their emotions, and can successfully regulate their emotions when faced with negative emotions (Eisenburg et al. 1998; as cited in Altan Atalay, Saritas Atalar, 2018). suppress your feelings Even though adolescent individuals who focus on aging are successful in suppressing, they cannot cope with the physiological arousal of the emotion they experience in their bodies, and as a result, they have difficulty in controlling and regulating their behaviors. Along with more intense negative emotional experiences during adolescence, this may result in various psychopathological disorders such as depression (Aral et al., 2001; Eisenburg et al. 2010; cited in Altan Atalay, Sarıtaş Atalar, 2018).
In adolescence, it is a very helpful factor for the adolescent to adapt to society by enriching his life with positive experiences in order to gain social and emotional skills. For this, parents should support their social and emotional behaviors from childhood. With this support from the parents, the child will be successful in establishing healthy relationships with those around him, will be able to work in harmony with others, will respect the rights and feelings of other people, will not give in to and reject the requests that are directed to him and that he does not accept, will be able to accept the situations in which he is powerless and seek help from others and have a sense of empathy. (Durualp, 2014).
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