Physical development  

Physical changes related to adolescent development are minimal during late adolescence, from age 19 to 21. Most healthy adolescents have completed puberty and the sexual organs are fully grown.

Older adolescent boys usually experience increased growth of facial and chest hair. Initial signs of male-pattern hair loss, such as a receding hairline, can also appear in young men who are predisposed to the hereditary condition. Both young women and men may gain weight during late adolescence, especially if activity levels are reduced.

Cognitive development

Late adolescence involves a decrease in self-centeredness. Adolescents now often begin to express interest about global concepts like justice, history, politics and patriotism. They commonly engage in moral reasoning, and many develop idealistic views. They may also become more interested in social, cultural and family traditions.

Older teens typically enjoy participating in discussions about topics of personal interest, and some may show intolerance to opposing views. Because of this developing interest and general naïvety about the world, religious or political groups and affiliations that promise easy answers to complex issues may hold great interest for some older adolescents.

The heightened ability to think abstractly also allows older teens to think more realistically about future plans and career goals. Older adolescents generally begin to think more about their emerging role in society – that of an adult.

Psychosocial development

As older teenagers become less self-centered, they begin to care more about others and relationships tend to shift from the peer group to that of the individual. Dating becomes more intimate and less superficial, and relationships increasingly involve love and commitment. Intimate relationships are an important component of identity for many older adolescents.

By the time they reach late adolescence, most teens have had sexual intercourse and many have a more stable body image since pubertal growth is now slowed or almost non-existent. Older adolescents usually become a lot more independent from their family.