Adolescence PDF

Adolescence The World Health Organization (WHO) defines an adolescent as any person between ages 10 and 19. The age range falls within WHO’s definition of young people which refers to individuals between ages 10 and 24. Puberty - Transition from childhood to young adu...

Adolescence The World Health Organization (WHO) defines an adolescent as any person between ages 10 and 19. The age range falls within WHO’s definition of young people which refers to individuals between ages 10 and 24. Puberty - Transition from childhood to young adulthood Early Adolescence (Ages 10 to 13) - Often start to grow more quickly - Body changes include hair growth under the arms and near the genitals, breast development in females and enlargement of testicles in males - It starts a year or two earlier in girls than boys, and it can be normal for some changes to start as early as age 8 for females and age 9 for males. - Many girls may start their period at around age 12, on average 2 - 3 years after the onset of breast development - These body changes can make them curious and anxious - Some question their gender identity during this period - They are often self-conscious about their appearance and feel as though they are always being judged by their peers. - They may start to explore ways of being independent from their family. - They may push boundaries and may react strongly if parents or guardians reinforce limits. Middle Adolescence (Ages 14 to 17) - Physical changes from puberty continue - Most males will have started their growth spurt, and puberty-related changes continue. - They may have some voice cracking, for example, as their voices lower. - Physical changes may be nearly complete for females, and most girls now have regular periods. - At this age, many teens become interested in romantic and sexual relationships. - They may question and explore their sexual identity―which may be stressful if they do not have support from peers, family, or community. - Many middle adolescents have more arguments with their parents as they struggle for more independence. - They may spend less time with family and more time with friends. - They are very concerned about their appearance, and peer pressure may peak at this age. - The brain continues to change and mature at this stage, but there are still many differences in how a normal middle adolescent thinks compared to an adult. - Much of this is because the frontal lobes are the last areas of the brain to mature―development is not complete until a person is well into their 20s - The frontal lobes play a big role in coordinating complex decision making, impulse control, and being able to consider multiple options and consequences. Middle adolescents are more able to think abstractly and consider "the big picture," but they still may lack the ability to apply it in the moment. For example, in certain situations, they may find themselves thinking things like: "I'm doing well enough in math and I really want to see this movie… one night of skipping studying won't matter." Late Adolescence (18 - 21) - Generally have completed physical development and grown to their full adult height. - They usually have more impulse control by now and may be better able to gauge risks and rewards accurately. - Late adolescents might find themselves thinking: "While I do love to watch movies, I need to study for my final.” - Teens entering early adulthood have a stronger sense of their own individuality now and can identify their own values. - They may become more focused on the future and base decisions on their hopes and ideals. - Friendships and romantic relationships become more stable. - They become more emotionally and physically separated from their family. Physical Changes in Puberty The pituitary gland is the key player because it releases growth hormone and signals the other glands to secrete hormones. It signals the ovaries to secrete estrogen which causes the breasts to enlarge, female genitals to mature and fat to accumulate. For the boys, it signals the testes to secrete the androgen hormone testosterone which causes the male genitals to mature and muscle mass to increase. Physiological Impacts of Puberty 1. Body Image - Many teenagers look in the mirror regularly to check signs of additional physical change. Girls worry more than boys about their appearance. 2. Moodiness - From joy to sadness, irritation to anger over the course of the day. - Presumed due to the influx of hormones associated with puberty - “hormones running wild”. - Mood changes can also be associated with social settings 3. Rate of Maturation - Girls who mature early often lack self-confidence and are less popular. - Life changing effects for those who are pressured into sex and become mothers while still teenagers. - Stressful for boys if early or late because they want to be “on time” just like their friends. - Boys date more often and have more positive feelings about their physical development and their athletic abilities. Nutrition Physical growth means the body has special nutritional needs. They should have a well balanced diet. Eating disorders are common among adolescents 1. Anorexia nervosa - A disorder marked by persistent refusal to eat and an irrational fear of being overweight. They have a distorted image of their body. 2. Bulimia nervosa - A disease in which people alternate between binge eating periods, eating uncontrollably and purging through use of laxatives or self-induced vomiting.  3. Binge Eating Disorder - Individuals who suffer from Binge Eating Disorder will frequently lose control over his or her eating. - Different from bulimia nervosa however, episodes of binge-eating are not followed by compensatory behaviors, such as purging, fasting, or excessive exercise. - Because of this, many people suffering from BED may be obese Physical Fitness To engage in physical activities that promote mental and physical mental development during adolescence and throughout adulthood. Young people participate in sports. Cognitive Development Piaget’s Formal Operational Stage (11 - 15) - Thoughts can be abstract, idealistic, and logical - Looking into life’s possibilities, dreaming of dreams - Adolescents often have adult-like skills in some domains such as using computers (better than adults) which allows them to teach adults. - Increased knowledge enables them to identify strategies appropriate for specific tasks. - They are more analytical in the decisions they make and not relying easily on what others say. Kohlberg’s Moral Development Stage 2: Conventional Morality - Moral reasoning based on society’s norms or expectations of others on them. Stage 3: Interpersonal Norms - They want to gain the approval of other people by behaving like “good girls” and “good boys”. Stage 4: Social System Morality - Belief that social roles, expectations and laws exist to maintain order within the society and to promote the good of all people. Search for Identity Trying out many possible selves and need to select a single self. They fantasize about their future, possible love life, where they will live and more. They are concerned about themselves, what their friends will say and have the belief or illusion of invulnerability. Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Stage: Identity vs. Role Confusion (12 - 20) Characteristics: Individuals are faced with finding out who they are, what they are all about, and where they are going in life. An important dimension is the exploration of alternative solutions to roles. Career exploration is important. Predominant Social Setting: Peers  Psychosocial Crisis: To answer the question: Who am I? Identity crisis Outcome: Teens need to develop a sense of self and personal identity. Success leads to an ability to stay true to “yourself”, while failure leads to role confusion and a weak sense of self. Strengths or Virtues if Crisis is Resolved: Fidelity Self-Esteem Self esteem is more differentiated in adolescence. They distinguish their self-worth in many different relationships; high in academic domain and moderate in social domain, low self-esteem in the physical domain or feeling loser in romantic relationships. Influences on Adolescents’ self-esteem Parents and peers’ views. Adolescents’ self-worth increases when they believe that their peers think highly of them. Role of parents, peers and teachers are crucial. Peers 1. Friendships Need to belong of Maslow stresses the psychological importance of close friendships. There is a dramatic increase in the psychological importance of close friendships in adolescence 2. Peer Groups Peer pressure is strong. Cliques and crowds assume more importance in the lives of the adolescents. 3. Romantic Relationships Distinctive landmark in adolescence Usually build on friendship. Often experiences emotional upheaval and conflict. Sexual exploration happens at this stage. 4. Career Development Interests and talents are important factors in career choices. Knowledge about work and actual work experience. Features of a job or profession fit the personality type of the person. Myths about storm and stress period of adolescent Rebellion among adolescents is overstated. Parent-child relationships do change. Parents must respect and adjust to their children’s growing sense of autonomy. Adolescents spend less time with parents and argue more often about matters of style, taste and freedom. Adolescent Problems 1. Juvenile Delinquency 2. Depression and suicide 3. Early pregnancy 4. Drug abuse