• Physical Maturation
  • Adolescence – Developmental stage between adulthood and childhood
  • Growth During Adolescence: The Rapid Pace of Physical and Sexual

Maturation

  • The dramatic changes during adolescence constitute the adolescent growth spurt­ rapid development in height and weight.
  • Girls – earlier – 3.5’/yr. 10 yrs.
  • Boys – 4.1’/yr. 12
  • By age 13 boys are taller than girls and will remain that way for the rest of the life span (on average)
  • more time in steady growth in childhood for boys, which is why they tend to be taller on average
  • Puberty
  • Puberty ­ the period of maturation during which the sexual organs mature. The timing of puberty is linked to cultural and environmental factors, as well as to biological ones.
  • Pituitary gland signals other glands to increase production in androgens/estrogens
  • Puberty in Girls
  • Girls begin puberty about 11 or 12; boys begin at 13 or 14.
  • Environmental and cultural factors play a role in age of puberty.
  • Menarche­ onset of menses
  • may have cultural significance
  • Cultural/SES influences – higher SES,

healthy, well nourished girls start earlier.

  • Obesity causes increase in leptin – hormone associated with menstruation
  • Significant, ongoing stress can also bring on menarche earlier.

Menarche age in the United States has declined since the nineteenth century, an example of a secular trend­ statistical tendency seen over generations 1900’s – 15

Today – 11/12

This is attributed to better healthcare as well as better nutrition.

  • The development of primary sex characteristics involves changes in organs/structures directly related to reproduction
  • Secondary sex characteristics involve visible signs of sexual maturity that are not directly related to reproduction. Ex. Breasts and pubic hair.
  • Puberty in Boys
  • The penis and scrotum begin to grow at an accelerated rate at around the age of 12, reaching adult size about 3 or 4 years later. Enlargement of prostate

Spermarche – first ejaculation – 13. Usually not celebrates

  • Secondary sex characteristics are also developing. ­ Pubic hair –
  1. then underarm and facial hair.
  • Voices deepen – vocal chords increase in length, larynx enlarges
  • Body Image: Reactions to Physical Changes in Adolescence
  • Body image involves an adolescent’s own reactions to these physical changes.
  • Females – may be dismayed by weight gain
  • attitudes toward menarche are more positive; higher selfesteem, status
  • may still dislike more unpleasant aspects
  • Males – spermarche rarely discussed, but similar reactions

• The Timing of Puberty: Consequences of Early and Late Maturation

  • The physical changes that accompany puberty, which adolescents usually experience with keen interest, often have psychological effects, which may involve an increase in self­esteem and self­awareness, as well as some confusion and uncertainty about sexuality.
  • Early Maturation
  • Early maturation is generally positive for boys.
  • Better at sports, more popular, better self­esteem
  • grow up to be more cooperative and responsible
  • more likely to experience problems in school, delinquency, substance abuse – older friends not prepared
  • Early maturation is often difficult for girls.
  • May feel uncomfortable
  • ridicule from less mature peers
  • sought after for dates, witch increases self­esteem
  • may not be ready
  • shorter and heavier as adults
  • societies less accepting of sexuality tend to make them feel judged
  • Late Maturation
  • Late maturation is difficult for boys.
  • Seen as less attractive, not as good at sports
  • can lead to a loss of self­esteem
  • as adults – show more intellectual curiosity; playful For late maturing girls the picture is complicated.
  • Overlooked, low social status
  • self­esteem rises when they catch up
  • taller and thinner on average
  • Nutrition and Food: Fueling the Growth of Adolescence
  • Food and eating disorders become a focus during adolescence.
  • The adolescent growth spurt requires an increase in food (especially key nutrients such as calcium and iron).
  • Average girl needs 2,200 calories/day; average boy – 2,800
  • Obesity
  • Obesity is a common concern during adolescence.
  • Obese teens have an 80% chance of becoming obese adults
  • Psychological, social consequences
  • Fast foods contribute to problem – teens have more money, are more likely to buy sedentary lifestyles
  • Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia
  • Anorexia nervosa – mostly women – refusal to eat. Phobia of food and gaining weight. Deadliest of mental disorders
  • 15­20% die of starvation
  • intelligent, successful, attractive, affluent, white
  • Bulimia – mostly women – bingeing, followed by purging

(vomiting, laxatives, exercise)

  • Esophageal fistulas, electrochemical imbalance
  • weight stays in normal range
  • Sleep Deprivation
  • most teens need 9 hours a night
  • internal clocks make them more awake at night
  • have to go to school early in the morning
  • toll of deprivation: Lower grades, higher risk of depression, higher risk of auto accidents
  • Stress and Coping
  • Stress­ response to events that threaten/challenge us
  • Some are beneficial, as is the “emergency reaction” – biological reaction that prepares us for fight/flight
  • Long­term, continuous exposure to stressors, however, may result in body deterioration and a susceptibility to disease.
  • Moderate, occasional stress is biologically healthy­ exercise strengthens muscles, etc.
  • Meeting the Challenge of Stress
  • Coping – efforts we make to reduce, control, or tolerate stress
  • Some adolescents are better than others at coping, the effort to control, or learning to tolerate the threats that lead to stress.
  • Problem­focused coping – directly challenging situation to reduce stress.
  • Emotion­focused coping – regulation with emotional response
  • Social support – assistance/comfort from others
  • Defensive coping – unconscious use of strategies that distort or deny true nature of the situation
  • Threats to Adolescents’ Well­Being
  • Illegal Drugs
  • While reports on adolescent drug use show a modest decrease in teen drug use over the past few years, the dangers of drug use are very real.
  • Some theories of why adolescents try illegal drugs are:
  • pleasurable experience
  • escapism
  • thrill of illegal
  • role­models who use drugs
  • conforming to peers
  • Addictive drugs – produce biological or psychological dependance
  • A major danger of drugs as escapism is the adolescent never learns to confront and potentially solve the problems that led to drug use.
  • Also, casual use may lead to more dangerous forms of substance abuse.
  • Alcohol: Use and Abuse
  • There is high use of alcohol in adolescents and college students.
  • Binge drinking – intention to get drunk
  • Adolescents drink for a lot of different reasons
  • adult activity
  • status – especially in males
  • they think all other teens drink
  • escapism
  • Alcoholics­ people who have become dependent on alcohol, may be unable to control drinking
  • may be genetically predisposed to alcoholism

 

  • Among the warning signs that an adolescent may have a problem with drugs or alcohol are
  • identification with drug culture
  • evidence of physical deterioration
  • dramatic descent in school performance significant changes in behavior
  • Where did you hide things?
  • Mattress
  • back of the toilet tank
  • stuffed animals
  • Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI)
  • AIDS – one of the leading causes of death in young people worldwide
  • particularly severe in minority populations
  • African­Americans and Hispanics make up 40% of cases, even though they are only 18% of the US population
  • AIDS and Adolescent Behavior
  • teens think they are invulnerable
  • they think they can tell if someone has an STI
  • Other Sexually Transmitted Infections
  • Other sexually transmitted diseases include
  • Chlamydia­ bacteria – burning upon urinating, discharge; pelvic inflamitory disease, sterility.
  • Treated with antibiotics – some strains are becoming resistant
  • HPV – human papilloma virus – genital warts, most common STI
  • transmitted skin to skin
  • linked to cervical cancer
  • vaccines available
  • Genital Herpes­ viral – blisters/sores in and around genitles
  • no cure; treatments can make breakouts less severe, frequent
  • Trichomoniasis – parasite – painful discharge
  • Gonorrhea and syphilis­ oldest – bacterial infections
  • some strains becoming resistant