Age-Related Issues

Parenting an infant or toddler can be joyous as well as challenging. Parents may encounter difficulty adjusting to their new role as care providers and can sometimes encounter marital difficulties as a result. Because every child is different and develops at a different rate, their needs can change rapidly and can be difficult to assess and meet. This is especially true for children that have special needs (i.e. autism, Down’s syndrome), which makes early intervention even more important.

There are a number of difficulties encountered by children during childhood that range from bed-wetting to non-compliance at home. As children grow older and enter school, many often encounter difficulties with reading, mathematics, or have problems with paying attention (ADHD). Additionally, many children have difficulty adjusting to their social environment, which may cause excessive shyness, inappropriate behaviors, or social isolation.

The transition period between childhood and adulthood can be difficult. Adolescents are still subject to many of the same problems as children, such as behavior problems at home and at school, learning difficulties (i.e. ADHD, reading disorder, mathematics disorder), adjustment at school. However, it is also during this time that adolescents are faced with more “adult” issues, such as puberty, sexuality, greater social demands (i.e. popularity, peer rejection).

 

In today’s society, young adults are faced with a number significant life changes. Whether it is adjusting to college life, becoming financially independent, or starting a family, each of these factors can cause a great deal of stress and lead to problems in relationships, school, and work.

As adults, many people encounter a large number of significant life changes, good and bad, that can cause a significant amount of stress and lead to emotional, physical, and relational problems. As adults, people oftentimes become parents, experience tragedy, become divorced, lose loved ones, change or lose jobs, and encounter financial difficulties.

As the American population is living longer and longer, psychology has identified a number of unique life changes and stressors that are unique to the older adult population. Many older adults encounter a decline in physical health or functioning. It is also during this life stage that older adults often begin to lose many of their peers and family members and can become distressed about coming to the end of their own lives. Additionally, many older adults are concerned for their mental functioning and many experience significant anxiety about developing dementia.