Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary brain-neuroendocrine process that signals the onset of adolescence?
What is the primary brain-neuroendocrine process that signals the onset of adolescence?
Girls typically begin their growth spurt around age ___ and peak at about ___ years.
Girls typically begin their growth spurt around age ___ and peak at about ___ years.
9, 11½
What hormonal changes primarily occur during puberty in boys?
What hormonal changes primarily occur during puberty in boys?
Testosterone release from maturing testes
Which of the following is considered a primary sexual characteristic in girls?
Which of the following is considered a primary sexual characteristic in girls?
Signup and view all the answers
Adolescents need more sleep than they did in middle childhood.
Adolescents need more sleep than they did in middle childhood.
Signup and view all the answers
What are the potential negative effects of early maturation in girls?
What are the potential negative effects of early maturation in girls?
Signup and view all the answers
What change occurs to the prefrontal cortex during adolescence?
What change occurs to the prefrontal cortex during adolescence?
Signup and view all the answers
Match the following terms related to adolescence with their descriptions:
Match the following terms related to adolescence with their descriptions:
Signup and view all the answers
What is the typical age range for middle adolescence?
What is the typical age range for middle adolescence?
Signup and view all the answers
Late maturing boys tend to have a higher popularity compared to their peers.
Late maturing boys tend to have a higher popularity compared to their peers.
Signup and view all the answers
What is a common emotional response to puberty?
What is a common emotional response to puberty?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Phases of Adolescence
- Early adolescence: 11-12 to 14 years old, rapid pubertal changes
- Middle adolescence: 14 to 16 years old, pubertal changes nearly complete
- Late adolescence: 16 to 18 years old, full adult appearance, taking on adult roles
Puberty
- Puberty is a brain-neuroedocrine process that occurs primarily in early adolescence
- Puberty causes physical changes such as growth in height, weight, and onset of sexual maturation
- Puberty is a signal of the start of adolescence
- Puberty ends before adolescence ends, and the timeline differs from person to person
Growth Spurt
- Growth spurt begins earlier for girls than boys
- Girls: begins around age 9 and peaks at 11 1/2, grow about 3 1/2 inches per year
- Boys: begins around age 11 and peaks at 13 1/2, grow about 4 inches per year
- During adolescence, young people grow about 10-11 inches and gain approximately 50 to 75 pounds
Hormonal Changes in Puberty
- Release of growth hormone (GH) and thyroxine
- Adrenarche: release of adrenal androgens
- Estrogens contribute to girls' height spurt, development of female sex characteristics, and regulation of the menstrual cycle. Estrogens also combine with androgens to stimulate bone density gains
- Testosterone is released by boys' maturing testes. Testosterone leads to muscle growth, body and facial hair, and other male sex characteristics. Testosterone also contributes to gains in body size
Sexual Maturation
- Primary sexual characteristics refer to the maturation of reproductive organs
- Girls: menarche (first menstruation)
- Boys: spermarche (first ejaculation)
- Secondary sexual characteristics are visible signs of sexual maturity
- Girls: breasts
- Boys: facial hair, voice change
- Both sexes: underarm and pubic hair
Timing and Sequence of Puberty
- Timing and sequence of pubertal changes vary among individuals, impacted by a number of factors
Secondary Sex Characteristics in Boys
- Broadening of chest and shoulders
- Deepening of voice and appearance of facial hair
- Increase in size of genitals
- Appearance of body hair and pubic hair
Secondary Sex Characteristics in Girls
- Appearance of hair in the armpit
- Widening of hips and appearance of pubic hair
- Development of breasts
Individual Differences in Pubertal Growth
- Timing of pubertal changes is influenced by:
- Heredity
- Nutrition and exercise
- Geographical location
- Socioeconomic status and ethnic group
- Early family experiences
- Stressors
Timing of Menarche
- Menarche occurs, on average, between 10 and 16, influenced by a number of factors
Reactions to Pubertal Changes
- Pubertal events affect self-image, mood, and interactions with parents and peers
- Responses to menarche can vary greatly
- Prior knowledge and family support
- Cultural attitudes toward puberty and sexuality
- Societies with cultural initiation ceremonies can help adolescents navigate changes related to puberty
- Western societies do not have widely accepted markers of maturity, and adolescents gain partial adult status at various ages
Emotional and Social Responses to Puberty
- Adolescent moodiness is mildly linked to hormone levels and more strongly linked to negative life events
- Moods are less stable from younger to older adolescents
- Parent-child relationships:
- Puberty is linked to an increase in the intensity of parent-child conflict
- Psychological distancing may be a modern substitute for young people leaving the family group
- Warm family bonds throughout life are beneficial for both generations
Consequences of Pubertal Timing
- Early maturing boys:
- Popular
- Confident and independent
- Positive body image
- Late maturing boys:
- Unpopular
- Transient emotional difficulties until they catch up physically with peers
- Early maturing girls:
- Unpopular and withdrawn
- Low confidence and negative body image
- More involved in risky behaviors, including early sexual intercourse
- Late maturing girls:
- Popular
- Sociable and lively
- Positive body image
- Better academic performance
Early Maturation - Girls
- Early maturation in girls is often connected to a variety of problems:
- Depressed mood
- Negative body image
- Eating disorders
- Substance use
- Delinquency
- School problems
- Conflicts with parents
Late Maturation - Girls
- Late maturing girls have fewer problems than early maturing girls
- They can still experience:
- Teasing
- Negative body image during the years when other girls have started to develop
- By their late teens, however, they tend to have a more favorable body image
- They are more likely to have a lean bodybuild that is considered attractive in Western majority cultures
Early Maturation - Boys
- Early maturation in boys tends to have positive effects:
- More favorable body image
- Higher popularity
- There are some negative consequences:
- Substance use
- Delinquency
- Sex
Late Maturation - Boys
- Late maturing boys show evidence of problems
- Compared to boys who mature on time, late maturing boys have higher rates of:
- Alcohol/substance use
- Delinquency
- Lower grades in school
- Deviant behavior
Brain Development in Adolescence
- White matter increases, gray matter declines:
- Pruning of unused synapses continues
- Myelination accelerates, strengthening connections among brain regions
- Prefrontal cortex becomes more effective "executive"
- Neurons become more sensitive to excitatory neurotransmitters
- Changes in the emotional/social network outpace the development of the prefrontal cognitive-control network
Sleep and the Adolescent Brain
- During puberty:
- Circadian rhythm (internal biological clock) is reset
- Melatonin (sleep hormone) is released later
- As a result, adolescents fall asleep 2-3 hours later and wake up 2-3 hours later
Adolescent Sleep-Wake Cycle
- The timing of sleep-wake cycles changes significantly during adolescence
Sleep and the Adolescent Brain
- Adolescents need about 9 hours of sleep
- Most adolescents get far less sleep than they need, only around 7-8 hours
Sleep Habits in Adolescence
- Teenagers go to bed later due to:
- Biological changes
- Evening social activities
- Use of screen media
- Sleep deprivation:
- Affects performance on cognitive tasks
- May lead to anxiety and depressed mood
- Is associated with high-risk behaviors
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
Explore the key phases of adolescence, focusing on early, middle, and late stages. Understand the role of puberty and growth spurts, including hormonal changes and their impacts on physical development. This quiz will cover essential aspects of adolescent growth and maturation.
