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Social and Emotional Development: Supporting Teenage Wellbeing

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

807 enrolled on this course

A diverse group of teenagers sit in a group therapy circle with a councillor supporting their mental health and wellbeing.

Social and Emotional Development: Supporting Teenage Wellbeing

807 enrolled on this course

  • 4 weeks

  • 2 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Introductory level

Find out more about how to join this course

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.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

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?

University of Lincoln

The University of Lincoln is rated in the top 20 UK universities for student satisfaction in the Guardian University Guide 2022 and the Complete University Guide 2022.

  • Established

    1996
  • Location

    Lincoln, Lincolnshire, UK

Ways to learn

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$27.99

For the first two months. Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$134/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 30 May 2024

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 5 May 2024 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 5 May 2024 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

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

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