Perceived Attainment of Developmental Tasks in Adolescents With and Without Mental Disorders

The present study compared the perceived attainment of developmental tasks of 220 adolescents diagnosed with anxiety disorder, attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, or depression with a matched sample of 220 peers without a mental illness. The clinical sample perceived lower success with solving personal, social, and socio-institutional developmental tasks compared with their healthy peers. Comparisons across diagnoses identified the largest differences between students with internalizing disorders (anxiety, depression) versus other disorders. We conclude that psychological interventions with adolescents with mental disorders should promote their attainment of age-typical developmental goals.