Chapter 11 Adolescence A A Developmental Transition a Adolescence developmental transition that involves physical b cognitive emotional and social changes and takes varying forms in different social cultural and economic settings Important physical change puberty process that leads to sexual maturity or fertility the ability to reproduce c Adolescence is roughly between ages of 11 19 or 20 d Adolescence as a Social Construction It is a social construction i ii Did not occur as a separate stage of life until the 20th century e Adolescence A Time of Opportunity and Risk i Opportunities for growth physical cognitive social competence autonomy etc ii Risky behaviors increase the likelihood that adolescents will not make it to adulthood physically and mentally healthy however since the 1990 s there have been decreases in risky behaviors B Physical Development a How Puberty Begins Hormonal Changes i Puberty results from the production of various hormones ii A rise in GnRH results in production of luteinizing hormone LH and follicle stimulating hormone FSH iii These initiate secretion of testosterone in boys and onset of menstruation in girls iv Puberty is marked by 2 stages the activation of the adrenal glands adrenarche and the maturing of the sex organs a few years later gonadarche v DHEA influences the growth of pubic axillary underarm and facial hair and contributes to faster body growth oilier skin and the development of body odor vi Time when all of this hormonal activity begins depends on reaching a critical amount of body fat necessary for reproduction vii Hormones are also responsible for the heightened emotionality and moodiness of early adolescents b Timing Signs and Sequence of Puberty and Sexual Maturity i Changes that herald puberty usually begin around age 8 in girls and age 9 in boys ii African American and Mexican American girls generally go through puberty earlier than white girls 1 Primary and Secondary Sex Characteristics a Primary those organs necessary for reproduction i Female this includes ovaries fallopian tubes uterus clitoris and vagina ii Male testes penis scrotum seminal vesicles prostate gland b Secondary physiological signs of sexual maturation that do not directly involve the sex organs i Breasts broad shoulders for males changes in voice and skin texture muscular development growth of body hair c Sequence is more consistent than timing iii Signs of Puberty testes in boys 1 Breast tissue and pubic hair for girls enlargement of 2 Acne is more common in boys and seems related to increased amounts of testosterone iv Adolescent Growth Spurt 1 Rapid increase in weight height and muscle and bone growth occurring during puberty 2 Boys and girls grow differently in form shape and rates of growth girls go through this about 2 years earlier v Signs of Sexual Maturity 1 Spermarche first ejaculation around age 13 2 Menarche first menstruation ranges from 10 16 vi Influences on and Effects of Timing of Puberty 1 Secular Trend trend that spans several generations in the onset of puberty a drop in the ages when puberty begins and when young people reach adult height and sexual maturity possibly due to the higher standard of living C The Adolescent Brain a Still a work in progress b Risk taking appears to result from the interaction of two brain networks i A socio emotional network that is sensitive to social and emotional stimuli such as peer influence more active at puberty ii A cognitive control network that regulates responses to stimuli matures more gradually into adulthood c Adolescents process info about emotions differently than adults do i Early adolescents use the amygdala while older adolescents use the frontal lobes which permit more accurate reasoned judgments d Mid to late adolescence people have stronger smoother and more effective neuronal connections making processing more efficient D Physical and Mental Health poverty a Many health problems are preventable stemming from lifestyle or b Adolescents from less affluent families tend to report poorer health and those from more affluent families tend to have healthier diets and to be more physically active i Exercise or lack there of affects both physical and mental ii Adolescents show a steep drop in physical activity upon c Physical Activity health entering puberty d Sleep Problems e Nutrition and Eating Disorders i Children go to sleep later and sleep less on school days the older they get even though they need even more sleep as they get older ii Sleep deprivation can cause many problems including lack of motivation irritability and concentration and school performance may suffer iii Timing of secretion of melatonin occurs later at night as children age and school schedules do not complement this as they generally start earlier i US adolescents eat fewer fruits and vegetables and consume more foods that are high in cholesterol fat and calories and low in nutrients than adolescents in other countries ii Obesity 1 US teens are about twice as likely to be overweight as their age mates in 14 other industrialized countries 2 Obesity can cause problems for kids in school and health problems later in life like diabetes or heart disease 3 There are genetic and biological risk factors but lack of exercise is the main risk factor for overweight boys and girls f Body Image and Eating Disorders i A concern with body image may lead to obsessive efforts at weight control ii Excessive concern with weight control and body image may be signs of anorexia or bulimia nervosa which involve abnormal patterns of food intake iii Eating disorders stem from more than just cultural pressure to be thin there are also biological factors and genetic factors iv Anorexia 1 Self starvation 2 Distorted body image and though they are typically severely underweight they think they are too fat 3 Extremely afraid of losing control and becoming overweight v Bulimia 1 Huge short lived eating binges lasting about two hours or less and then purging the high caloric intake through self induced vomiting strict dieting or fasting excessive exercise or using laxatives or diuretics 2 Binge Eating Disorder goes on binges but does not fast exercise or vomit after these people are usually overweight vi Treatment and Outcomes of Eating Disorders 1 Immediate goal of treatment for AN is to get patients to eat and gain weight 2 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy works for changing a distorted body image family therapy or hospitalization for severe cases g Use
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