Chapter 11- AdolescenceA. A Developmental Transitiona. Adolescence: developmental transition that involves physical, cognitive, emotional, and social changes and takes varying forms in different social, cultural, and economic settingsb. Important physical change- puberty: process that leads to sexual maturity, or fertility- the ability to reproducec. Adolescence is roughly between ages of 11-19 or 20d. Adolescence as a Social Constructioni. It is a social constructionii. Did not occur as a separate stage of life until the 20th centurye. Adolescence: A Time of Opportunity and Riski. 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 behaviorsB. Physical Developmenta. How Puberty Begins: Hormonal Changesi. Puberty results from the production of various hormonesii. 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 girlsiv. 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 odorvi. Time when all of this hormonal activity begins depends on reaching a critical amount of body fat necessary for reproductionvii. Hormones are also responsible for the heightened emotionality and moodiness of early adolescentsb. Timing, Signs, and Sequence of Puberty and Sexual Maturityi. Changes that herald puberty usually begin around age 8 in girls and age 9 in boysii. African American and Mexican American girls generally go through puberty earlier than white girls1. Primary and Secondary Sex Characteristics:a. Primary: those organs necessary for reproductioni. Female: this includes ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, clitoris, and vaginaii. Male: testes, penis, scrotum, seminal vesicles, prostate glandb. Secondary: physiological signs of sexual maturation that do not directly involve the sex organsi. Breasts, broad shoulders for males, changes in voice and skin texture, muscular development, growth of body hairc. Sequence is more consistent than timingiii. Signs of Puberty1. Breast tissue and pubic hair for girls, enlargement of testes in boys2. Acne is more common in boys and seems related to increased amounts of testosteroneiv. Adolescent Growth Spurt1. Rapid increase in weight, height, and muscle and bone growth occurring during puberty2. Boys and girls grow differently in form, shape, and ratesof growth- girls go through this about 2 years earlierv. Signs of Sexual Maturity1. Spermarche: first ejaculation, around age 132. Menarche: first menstruation, ranges from 10-16½ vi. Influences on and Effects of Timing of Puberty1. 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 dueto the higher standard of living C. The Adolescent Braina. Still a work in progressb. Risk-taking appears to result from the interaction of two brain networksi. A socio-emotional network that is sensitive to social and emotional stimuli, such as peer influence- more active at pubertyii. A cognitive-control network that regulates responses to stimuli-matures more gradually into adulthoodc. Adolescents process info about emotions differently than adults doi. Early adolescents use the amygdala, while older adolescents use the frontal lobes which permit more accurate, reasoned judgmentsd. Mid to late adolescence, people have stronger, smoother, and more effective neuronal connections, making processing more efficientD. Physical and Mental Healtha. Many health problems are preventable, stemming from lifestyle or povertyb. 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 activec. Physical Activityi. Exercise-or lack there of-affects both physical and mental healthii. Adolescents show a steep drop in physical activity upon entering pubertyd. Sleep Problemsi. 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 olderii. Sleep deprivation can cause many problems including lack of motivation, irritability, and concentration and school performance may sufferiii. Timing of secretion of melatonin occurs later at night as children age and school schedules do not complement this as they generally start earliere. Nutrition and Eating Disordersi. 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 countriesii. Obesity1. US teens are about twice as likely to be overweight as their age mates in 14 other industrialized countries2. Obesity can cause problems for kids in school, and health problems later in life like diabetes or heart disease3. There are genetic and biological risk factors but lack of exercise is the main risk factor for overweight boys and girlsf. Body Image and Eating Disordersi. A concern with body image may lead to obsessive efforts at weight controlii. Excessive concern with weight control and body image may be signs of anorexia or bulimia nervosa which involve abnormal patterns of food intakeiii. Eating disorders stem from more than just cultural pressure to be thin, there are also biological factors and genetic factorsiv. Anorexia1. Self-starvation2. Distorted body image and though they are typically severely underweight, they think they are too fat3. Extremely afraid of losing control and becoming overweightv. Bulimia1. 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 overweightvi. Treatment and Outcomes of Eating Disorders1. Immediate goal of treatment for AN is to get patients to eat and gain weight2. Cognitive Behavioral
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