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Social and emotional changes in teens

This fact sheet is part of the Teen talk: a survival guide for parents of teenagers series.

The teenage years come with many strong and complex emotions. Teens are learning how to understand these emotions and express what they’re feeling. 

Understanding complex emotions

Teens are becoming more aware of their own emotions, learning to identify and name those emotions. Teens are also becoming more socially aware, recognizing the emotions of their peers and family. This is the start of developing empathy for others. For example, a teen might begin to notice how each of their friends reacts a little differently to the same situation.

Being able to recognize emotions means that teens can also begin to better manage their emotions. In psychological terms, this is called “emotional regulation.” Teens start to step back and think about their emotions before reacting. For example, instead of immediately showing anger over a friend's behavior, a teen may be able to walk away until they are ready to come back to the situation calmly and talk about it. They are better able to understand why their friend may have done something and the importance of working it out to maintain the relationship.

This is an important step in learning to interact with and get along with peers, but also with family, teammates, coaches, teachers and co-workers. 

What parents can do

  • Talk about what it means to be a good friend. Point out examples in movies, books or other media. Share examples from when you were a teen.
  • Model healthy ways to interact with others. These include being loyal, honest but kind, and considerate of others' feelings.
  • Get to know your teen's friends so you can better understand your teen’s relationships. You might offer to provide rides or have friends over to hang out.

Related resources

The Teen Years ExplainedClea McNeely, PhD and Jayne Blanchard — This e-book can help both teens and adults to understand developmental changes and tips for how to apply this knowledge to your everyday life.

Jodi Dworkin, Extension specialist and professor in family social science

Reviewed in 2023

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