A phenomenological inquiry into adolescents’ psychological, emotional and social experiences influencing their identity development

Adolescence, a transitional period of growth and development, where an individual experiences changes in patterns of thought, social and emotional behaviour. This research explored the participant viewpoints on the psychological, social, and emotional experiences of adolescents imparting on their identity formation of adolescents in Ghana. The paper adopted the qualitative approach relying on the phenomenological design. Based on purposive sampling techniques, 28 adolescents, 12 teachers, and 12 parents took part in individual interviews and focus group discussions. We analysed the data using interpretative phenomenological approaches. Participants described adolescents’ psychological, social and emotional experiences in terms of attaining higher cognition, social connections, and reactions to situations. The study also found that adolescents felt intimidated and acted inappropriately if they did not receive affection, protection, appreciation, and recognition from others. Based on the findings of the study, we recommend that adolescents build healthy social networking by expanding their social cycle and engaging in activities that improve their cognitive capacity.