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5 Social Problems of Growing Up Fast

Growing up fast has consequences for an individual and society. According to Kay S. Hymowitz in a 1998 article for "The Wall Street Journal," what used to be experienced by a child from 10 to 12 years old is now experienced at 8 to 10 years old. These early developments have the potential to lead children exhibiting adult behaviors at young ages. Some adult behaviors are positive, but others are destructive to a developing child.

  1. Teen Pregnancy

    • According to facts published by the Guttmacher Institute, a teen having sex without a contraceptive is 90 percent more likely to get pregnant within a year. An early, unwanted pregnancy not only has socioeconomic consequences for the teen, but also psychological effects. Fortunately the percentage of teenagers who use contraceptives has steadily increased since 1984. The Guttmacher Institute reports that 85 percent of teens used some form of contraception in 2005 through 2008.

    Socioeconomic Problems

    • The long-term socioeconomic effects of growing up fast are unclear. However, studies investigating parenthood during the teen years have shown that a girl whose mother gave birth during her teen years is more likely to become a teen mother herself. Other studies show that children who are raised inside low socioeconomic circumstances are more likely to have lower educational and career aspirations, as well as have their own children at a young age. Therefore, growing up fast becomes a cycle that is passed on through a family's in volatile socioeconomic situations.

    Physical Effects

    • A study by Monica Kirkpatrick Johnson, et al. called "Growing up Faster, Feeling Older: Hardship in Childhood and Adolescence," published in "Social Psychology Quarterly," revealed that hardships experienced in childhood led to an individual feeling older in her teens and twenties. For women, growing up too fast could have adverse physical effects, such as early menarche. Another study published in the "Journal of Health and Social Behavior," found that women who experienced abuse in childhood were more likely to have early menarche and depressive symptoms in adulthood.

    Drug and Alcohol Use

    • Drug and alcohol abuse at a young age, while exposing children and teens to adult stituations, actually stunts growth. High levels of alcoholism in teenage years could lead to depression in adult life. Although, as of 2011, no conclusive study exists showing the long-term physical effects of early drug and alcohol abuse, there is concern amongst lawmakers and parents about developmental disturbances.

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