Psychosocial development and adaptation during adolescence: a look at institutionalized adolescents

This paper presents the notions of development and adaptation in adolescence and the processes that generate resilience, integrating with the findings of studies on the effects of institutionalization on the psychosocial development of adolescents. Investigations show that institutionalization tends to produce adverse effects on the psychosocial development of adolescents, and lead to negative results in adulthood. Where there are no other viable solutions to institutionalization, it should last as little as possible. It is always necessary to consider the negative impacts of institutionalization and the potential benefits for the development of young people. If the benefits are not concrete and feasible, institutionalization is no useful.