Puberty Development Day 1 2024 PDF

 Puberty A biopsychosocial process involving rapid change in physical maturation + psychological and social changes. Involves a series of events over multiple years for most. Onset is usually marked by secondary sex characteristics because neuro- endocrine changes ar...

 Puberty A biopsychosocial process involving rapid change in physical maturation + psychological and social changes. Involves a series of events over multiple years for most. Onset is usually marked by secondary sex characteristics because neuro- endocrine changes are not observable.  Neuroendocrine Processes Adrenarche: activation of the HPA axis in middle childhood  maturation of adrenal glands + rise in adrenal androgens (testosterone & estrogen). Adrenal androgens must reach a certain level for youth to show physical effects.  Neuroendocrine Processes Gonadarche: reactivation of the HPG axis which leads to production of estrogen in ovaries and testosterone in testes; Occurs about 2 years after adrenarche, up to 1 year before physical features seen. Hypothalamus & pituitary gland use a negative feedback regulation  Sexual Maturation: Girls Breast budding, pubic hair, growth spurt begins, growth of uterus, vagina and labia, breast development, growth spurt peaks, menarche.  Sexual Maturation: Boys Growth of testes/scrotum, pubic hair, growth spurt begins, growth of penis, voice changes, nocturnal emissions, growth spurt peaks, body/facial hair.  Adolescent Growth Growth spurt: accelerated rate of increase in height & weight.  Adolescent Growth Weight gain reflects (1) skeletal growth, (2) increased muscle and fat tissue, and (3) increased size of internal organs. Head & extremities reach adult size first. Boys & girls acquire more muscle mass and more body fat but at different rates.  Onset of Puberty Puberty onset is related to biological factors (i.e., genes, kisspeptin) AND physical environmental factors (e.g., health, nutrition) AND social environmental factors (e.g., maltreatment, father absence).  Onset of Puberty DiLalla et al. (2021): Stressful family experiences at ages 4-5 years  puberty onset for girls and boys. Mothers’ personality chars were stronger predictors of puberty onset than stressful family experiences. Mothers’ neuroticism  earlier onset (girls); mothers’ impulsivity  earlier onset (boys).  Onset of Puberty Black et al. (2023): Does war exposure (social) and nutrition deprivation (physical)  puberty in Syrian refugee youth? Girls: High nutrition deprivation  lower rate of menarche; war exposure no effect. Boys: When high nutrition deprivation, war exposure no effect; when low nutrition deprivation, war exposure  earlier puberty onset.