AdolescenceAdolescence

13-19 years13-19 years

Physical DevelopmentPhysical Development

Growth Spurt: rapid increase in weight Growth Spurt: rapid increase in weight and heightand height

Weight gain: up to 25 lbsWeight gain: up to 25 lbsHeight: increases several inchesHeight: increases several inchesCan occur in a period of monthsCan occur in a period of monthsUsually happens between 11-13 in girlsUsually happens between 11-13 in girls

and 13-15 in boysand 13-15 in boys

Muscle coordination: awkwardness, Muscle coordination: awkwardness, clumsyclumsy

PubertyPubertyDevelopment of sexual organs & Development of sexual organs &

secondary sex characteristics:secondary sex characteristics:Secretion of hormones:Secretion of hormones:Onset of menses in girls, Onset of menses in girls, Production of sperm and semen in Production of sperm and semen in

boysboys2ndary sexual characteristics: Girls:2ndary sexual characteristics: Girls:Grow pubic and axillary hair, develop Grow pubic and axillary hair, develop

breasts and wider hips, distributes breasts and wider hips, distributes body fat which leads to female shapebody fat which leads to female shape

Puberty…cont’Puberty…cont’

2ndary sex characteristics: 2ndary sex characteristics: Boys:Boys:

Develop a deeper voiceDevelop a deeper voiceAttain more muscle mass and Attain more muscle mass and

broader shouldersbroader shouldersGrow pubic, facial, and body Grow pubic, facial, and body

hairhair..

Mental DevelopmentMental Development

Increase in knowledge and Increase in knowledge and sharpening of skillssharpening of skills

Decision making, acceptance of Decision making, acceptance of responsibility for their actionsresponsibility for their actions

Causes conflict: treated both as Causes conflict: treated both as children and adults.children and adults.

Emotional DevelopmentEmotional Development

Often stormy and in conflictOften stormy and in conflictUncertain and feel inadequate, as Uncertain and feel inadequate, as

they try to establish their identity they try to establish their identity and independence.and independence.

Worry about their appearance, their Worry about their appearance, their ability and relationships with others.ability and relationships with others.

Responds more to peer group Responds more to peer group influencesinfluences

Emotional…cont’Emotional…cont’

Responds more to peer group Responds more to peer group influencesinfluences

Leads to a change in attitude & Leads to a change in attitude & behaviorbehavior

Can create conflict with values Can create conflict with values previously established.previously established.

Emotional…cont’Emotional…cont’

Later years:Later years:Self identity is establishedSelf identity is establishedFeel more comfortable with who Feel more comfortable with who

they arethey areTurn attention to what they may Turn attention to what they may

becomebecomeGain more control of their feelingsGain more control of their feelingsBecome more mature emotionallyBecome more mature emotionally

Social DevelopmentSocial Development

Move away from family to Move away from family to association with peer groupsassociation with peer groups

Seek security in groups of people Seek security in groups of people their age and with similar problems their age and with similar problems and conflictsand conflicts

Develops a more mature attitude Develops a more mature attitude and patterns of behavior, that is and patterns of behavior, that is associated with adult behavior of associated with adult behavior of status.status.

Needs:Needs:

Reassurance, support, and Reassurance, support, and understanding along with basic needsunderstanding along with basic needs

Conflict & feelings of inadequacy & Conflict & feelings of inadequacy & insecurity can develop problems:insecurity can develop problems:

Eating disorders, ETOH abuse, suicideEating disorders, ETOH abuse, suicide*problems occur in other stages, but *problems occur in other stages, but

are most frequently associated with are most frequently associated with this periodthis period

Problems:Problems:

Eating disordersEating disorders: develop from : develop from an excessive concern with an excessive concern with appearanceappearance

Anorexia NervosaAnorexia Nervosa: Drastic : Drastic reduction of food intake, or No reduction of food intake, or No intake at allintake at all

Causes metabolic disturbances, Causes metabolic disturbances, excessive wt loss, weakness, and excessive wt loss, weakness, and death if not treateddeath if not treated

Problems:Problems:

Bulimia: Bulimia: alternately binges and alternately binges and purges, or refusal to eat.purges, or refusal to eat.

Induces vomiting, uses laxativesInduces vomiting, uses laxativesBoth conditions are more common Both conditions are more common

in females than malesin females than malesUsually needs psychological or Usually needs psychological or

psychiatric help to treatpsychiatric help to treat

Problems:Problems:Substance AbuseSubstance Abuse: used to relieve : used to relieve

anxiety or stress, peer pressure, anxiety or stress, peer pressure, escape from emotional or escape from emotional or psychological problems, psychological problems, experimentation instant experimentation instant gratification, or heredity or cultural gratification, or heredity or cultural factors can influence use.factors can influence use.

Can lead to total dependence, Can lead to total dependence, physical and mental disorders.physical and mental disorders.

Treatment: Total rehabilitationTreatment: Total rehabilitation

Suicide:Suicide:One of the leading causes of deathOne of the leading causes of deathReasons for suicide: depression, Reasons for suicide: depression,

grief or loss of love affair, failure in grief or loss of love affair, failure in school, inability to meet school, inability to meet expectations, influence of suicidal expectations, influence of suicidal friends or parents, lack of self friends or parents, lack of self esteem.esteem.

Impulsive nature of adolesence Impulsive nature of adolesence increases the possibility of suicideincreases the possibility of suicide

SuicideSuicideWarning Signs:Warning Signs:Verbal statements: “ I’d rather be Verbal statements: “ I’d rather be

dead; You’d be better off without me”dead; You’d be better off without me”Sudden changes in appetite and sleep Sudden changes in appetite and sleep

habitshabitsWithdrawals and moodinessWithdrawals and moodinessExcessive fatigue or agitationExcessive fatigue or agitationETOH or drug abuseETOH or drug abuseLoss of interest in hobbies or other Loss of interest in hobbies or other

aspects of lifeaspects of life

Suicide:Suicide: Individuals are calling for help and Individuals are calling for help and

attention:attention:Usually respond to efforts of Usually respond to efforts of

assistanceassistanceShould never be ignored!Should never be ignored!Prevention of Suicide:Prevention of Suicide:Provide support and understandingProvide support and understandingPsychological or psychiatric Psychological or psychiatric

counselingcounseling