Build more effective, attentive, and empathetic relationships with teenagers to improve teenage mental health and wellbeing.

Duration
4 weeksWeekly study
2 hours
Social and Emotional Development: Supporting Teenage Wellbeing
This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. Find out more.
Other courses you might like
This course isn't running right now. We can email you when it starts again, or check out these other courses you might like.
Browse more in Psychology & Mental Health
Understand the teenage brain
The teenage brain has numerous developmental differences. Recognising these can help us understand and empathise with teenage behaviour, fostering more constructive relationships.
On this four-week course from the University of Lincoln, you’ll delve into neurological, cultural and social aspects of the teenage experience, discussing how these influence behaviours and wellbeing. You’ll gain concrete guidance on how to improve your interactions with teenagers in either a professional or a caring capacity.
Examine the psychology behind teenage behaviour
Once you’ve understood teenage neurological and cognitive development, you’ll address the psychological drivers of teenage-specific behaviours.
You’ll look closer at teenage relationships and investigate the reasons for increased risk-taking among teenagers.
Discover social and cultural factors affecting teenage wellbeing
Next, you’ll consider teenage behaviours from a social and cultural perspective.
Focussing on the impact of social media and low self-esteem, you’ll explore how the social and cultural pressures on teenagers have evolved in recent years.
Develop strategies for supporting teenagers
In the last week of the course, you’ll reflect on how you can improve your own interactions with teenagers. You’ll compare and contrast approaches to supporting teenage wellbeing, developing strategies that you can apply in your own life and work.
You’ll finish the course with a better understanding of the teenage brain, and a more informed and empathetic way of engaging with teenagers.
Syllabus
Week 1
Understanding the teenage brain
Welcome and Course Overview
In the first activity you'll get to know a bit more about the course and have an opportunity to introduce yourself.
Teenage Behaviour and Development
This activity will focus on teenage development and the way which teenagers brains develop.
Summary
This activity contains a quiz to test your knowledge and holds a summary of the learning for this week.
Week 2
Psychological explanations of motivations behind teenage specific behaviours
Week 2 overview
This activity will give you an overview of week two and what you will be learning.
Teenage risk-taking
This activity looks at what is meant by the term teenage risk-taking and what this looks like in context.
Teenage friendships
This activity will focus on the role of friendships within teenage development.
Summary
This activity gives a summary of learning for the week.
Week 3
Social and cultural influences that affect teenage wellbeing
Week 3 Overview
This activity will give you an overview of this weeks learning.
Social influences impact on challenging behaviours and wellbeing
This activity will focus on the bioecological model and how this can be applied to social influences, challenging behaviours and wellbeing within teenagers.
Identifying risks and the development of social and cultural influences.
This activity will focus on risk identification using the bioecological model and discussing how social and cultural influences have changed and it's impact on contemporary teenagers.
Stereotyping, attitude and teenage self-esteem.
This activity will focus upon sterotyping, attitudes and self-esteem and the further impact on teenage wellbeing.
Summary
This section provides a short quiz and summary of learning.
Week 4
Constructive ways to work with and support teenagers
Week 4 Overview
This activity gives an overview of the activities within week 4.
The Iceberg model of emotions and scenario
This activity will outline the iceberg model and give you scenarios, based around Sam, to apply previously gained knowledge to.
Supporting teenage wellbeing
This activity will explore key strategies for teenagers can be supported with their wellbeing.
Summary
This will give the final summary of the course.
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Describe developmental differences of adolescent brains.
- Explain psychological factors that affect the behaviour and attitudes of teenagers.
- Assess the ways in which social and cultural influences affect wellbeing in teenagers.
- Reflect on attitudes towards teenagers and how this may affect their engagement.
- Demonstrate an awareness of approaches that can be used to improve communication and engagement with teenagers.
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for anyone with a personal or professional interest in teenage behaviours, attitudes, and wellbeing.
Prior experience of working or interacting with teenagers would be useful, but no prior knowledge of teenage psychology is necessary.
Who will you learn with?
Who developed the course?
Established
1996Location
Lincoln, Lincolnshire, UK
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn
Learner reviews
Learner reviews cannot be loaded due to your cookie settings. Please and refresh the page to view this content.