Share your thoughts on the chosen developmental stage found below and how it impacts mood disorders. Offer insights or additional information related to their chosen stage, if applicable. Encourage further discussion or provide constructive feedback on their ideas.

"The age group I chose is adolescence years. During adolescent years, the influence of onset mood disorders and expression of mood disorders is due to gender, biological factors, neurological and social settings. Women are twice as likely to have depression then men and women have higher heritability rates than males. In biological cases mood disorders are more likely to occur if a family member also has a mood disorder. Mood disorders are caused by low levels of serotonin, elevated cortisol and bad sleeping patterns. Social factors that can cause mood disorders in adolescents include stress and anxiety of school, making friends and trying to balance work, school and friends. In adolescent years teens are more likely to compare themselves to others and it will lead to depression, negative attributions and low self confidence. Teens with mood disorders have a higher risk of suicide, drugs, alcohol and nicotine usage. Hormones also play a big role during adolescent years because it leads to activation of stress hormones and changing hormones has a big effect on mood, behavior and affects neurotransmitters. During adolescence years, challenges that are associated with mood disorders are that many kids don't want to seek help and will develop learned helplessness theory, and will not try to improve their situation and would rather stay depressed. Other factors are that kids will feel pressured to buy the newest clothes, and if they are in a low income home that can't afford it then they will feel social rejection to everyone around them."