While many adolescents feel flattered, initially, by these grand adult expectations, they cannot sustain that adult level of functioning because they just don’t have the developmental capacity and readiness to do so. As these expectations continue, and as students keep trying to meet them, they show ever-increasing signs of stress: fatigue, anxiety, and depression, and the now-familiar cluster of behavioral manifestations including eating disorders, self-harm/cutting, substance abuse, and suicidal gestures.
Adult expectations
