We have all heard the frightening statistics before. Teens ages 15 to 19 are age group most likely to die due to injury – about six times more likely than 10- to 14-year-olds. Crime rates are highest among young males. Teens are also more likely to abuse alcohol and engage in risky sexual behavior compared with people of other ages.
Now a new paper published by the National Institute of Mental Health sums up the body of research on the vulnerability of teenagers. Much of the problem, it turns out, has to do with their brain development.
The paper explains that brain scans have revealed that the brain doesn’t resemble that of an adult until most people are in their early 20s. And the parts of the brain responsible for behaviors such as controlling impulses and planning ahead are among the last to mature.
Research also shows that the parts of the brain involved in emotional responses are more active in teenagers compared with adults, which may help explain teenagers tendencies to act impulsively and take on more risks.
So what’s a parent to do? Cornell Professor Valerie Reyna studies risky behavior among teenagers. (In fact, we’ve written about her research before.) She’s created a web page of resources on Risky Decision-Making in Adolescence to help teachers and parents guide kids. She offers a long list of strategies to keep young people safe, such as using positive role models and role playing to simulate risky situations.
If there are teenagers in your life, it’s worth understanding how their brains and developing and what you can do to help them make good decisions.
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