The transitional phase of growth and development between childhood and adulthood is called adolescence. Approximately the period between 12-18 years of age is considered to be the adolescent phase of an individual’s life.
Hence, statement III is incorrect.
A child undergoes major physical and psychological development during this period. Several behavioral and biological changes also occur within an individual during the adolescence period.
Hence, statement II is correct.
The cognitive, social, and emotional changes in an adolescent gradually changes the way he or she relates to the world. This leads to gradual attainment of maturity in late adolescents with respect to their attitudes and beliefs and enables them for effective participation in the society.
Early adolescents undergo major physical changes as they reach puberty during this time. Puberty is the time when the body of an individual goes through a process of physical changes to attain sexual maturity.
Hence, statement I is correct.
The attainment of puberty, the emergence of these changes or their delayed onset can cause a lot of mental turmoil in an adolescents’ body as they cope with the sudden changes.
The mental development of adolescents goes through many ups and downs. Early or middle aged adolescents are highly influenced by their peers and often struggle to make an impression on them. This can be harmful in the wrong company as the curiosity, need for adventure and desire to come across as ‘cool’ many a times pushes adolescents in the wrong path of drug and alcohol abuse.
Unsupportive family, struggle for independence, undue pressure to excel in studies, sports or other co-curricular activities can cause anxiety, depression, etc. in adolescents. This often pushes adolescents to indulge into bad habits such as drug or alcohol abuse to get rid of their problems and attain a temporary phase of euphoria and well-being.
Thus adolescence is an extremely vulnerable phase of mental development of an individual.
Hence, statement IV is correct.
Only one statement (III) is incorrect.