CHAPTER 15

Physical Development &Health

A Developmental Transition Initiation Coming of Age Rituals: Common

Example: Apache Tribes, 4-Day Chanting Celebration

Passage of ChildhoodAdulthood Marked by period of time rather than a single-

event ADOLESCENCE (encompassing years between 11-19)

“Developmental transition involving physical, cognitive, emotional and social transformations” Changes can vary by factors (cultural, social, economic)

Puberty: Important physical change

A Time of Risks and Opportunities Early Adolescence (approximately ages 11-14)

Opportunities for Growth Of course Physical, but don’t forget these….

Cognitive and Social Competence, Autonomy, Self-Esteem and Intimacy.

Period of RISKS Some adolescents may need help:

coping&dealing w/changes Face environmental hazards –National Center

of Health Statistics Risky BX reflects Immaturity of the Mind

Puberty Begins w/ Hormonal Changes Involves dramatic biological changes Result of heightened production

II Stages Adrenarche: Adrenal gland Gonadarche: Reproductive organs

Stage I Adrenarche: (beginning age 7-8)

Adrenal Glands: secrete increased levels of ANDROGENS

Specifically: DHEA – Dehydroepiandrosterone

DHEA Plays a part in many different growths

Body Hair (P,A,F) Overall Body Growth Oilier Skin AND, best of all…. Body Odor

Stage II Maturation of sex organs triggers burst numero 2

of DHEA production (rising to adult levels) Gonadarche

Girls: Ovaries increase Estrogen output Stimulates growth of : Female genitals, breasts and pubic and ax. hair.

Boys: Testes increase manufacture of androgens Particularly Testosterone

Genitals, muscle mass, and body hair.

Note: Hormones present in both genders but one has more than the other.

Testosterone: Plays part in the development of reproductive organs, in both males and females.

Interesting note: Several Studies (first sexual attraction)

Time of Increased Hormonal Production… Correlates with appropriate body fat

Necessary for reproduction (successfully)

Leptin, a hormone identified as having a role in over-weight, may trigger the onset of puberty by signaling the brain that sufficient fat has accumulated.

Accumulation within bloodstream may stimulate the HYPOTHALAMUS

Sending signals to Pituitary gland signal sex glands to increase hormone secretion.

Timing, Signs, and Sequence of Puberty and Sexual Maturity Changes that herald puberty 8 in girls and

9 in boys

Pubertal Process- Usually 3-4 years

African and Mexican American girls enter puberty earlier than white girls. Reported as early as age 6.

Primary/Secondary Sex Characteristics Primary Sex Characteristics: Organs Necessary for

Reproduction Girls: Ovaries, fallopian tubes, clitoris, uterus, and vagina. Boys: Testes, Penis, scrotum, seminal vesicles, and

prostate gland Organs enlarge and mature for both sexes

Secondary Sex Characteristics: Physiological signs of sexual maturation that do not directly involve the sex organs

Example: Girls: Breasts Male: Broad shoulders

**Changes unfold in a sequence that is much more consistent than their timing.

1st Signs of Puberty Girls: Typically breast tissue and pubic hair

Nipples, Areolae, Conical Round Shape

Boys: Enlargement of testes and pubic hair Pubic hair- silky, smooth dark, coarse; voice Adolescent Growth Spurt- characterized by a rapid

increase in height, weight, and muscle and bone growth that occurs during puberty. Begins around….and lasts about 2 years.

Girls: age 10; Boys: 12 or 13 G: Taller, heavier and stronger than boys at ages 11-13

***After their growth spurt, boys are again larger, as before

Signs of Sexual Maturity Maturation: Menstruation and Sperm Production

Menarche and Spermarche Spermarche

Occurs at AVG age of 13. Wet Dream= Nocturnal Emmission

Connection with Erotic Dreams EJACULATION

Menarche Occurs late in seq. of female development

Time varies: 10-16 ½ Overtime, 1st menstruation has occurred progressively earlier

Age 14 in 1900 compared to age 12, currently. Secular Trend p425

MENSTURATION

Psychological Effects of Early/Late Maturation Time of Maturation tends to predict:

Adolescent Mental Health & Mental-Health Bx in adulthood

Boys: Prefer to mature early, resulting in high self-esteem, poise, composure, relaxation, good-natured along with a popular/less impulsive attitude than late maturers. 426

Girls: Prefer maturation occurrence in conjunction with their peers. If not, may tend to be less sociable, less expressive, and less poised; more introverted and shy; and more negative about menarche than later maturing girls.

Low self-esteem can arise from the formation of breasts

**Among both boys and girls, early maturers are more vulnerable to risky behavior and influence of deviant peers.

Adolescent BrainStudies reveal adolescent brain as still being a work in progress. Dramatic changes in brain structure involved with

-emotion-judgment-organization of bx-self-control

.. Can take place during puberty-Usage of particular parts of the brain within adolescence compared to adulthood may provide insight on why adolescents’ make unwise choices Immature brain development <pg427>

-After growth spurt, the portion of grey matter located within the pre-frontal cortex is significantly smaller, due to synaptic pruning.

unused: destroyedused: strengthened

Physical and Mental Health Exercise affects both physical and

mental health of adolescent. Lots of benefits in sport participation Health problems reduced 1/3 Hschoolers don’t engage in enough p.a.

Loss of Sleep insomnia due to sleep patterns Melatonin

Nutrition and Eating Disorders Obesity is a significant problem- pg 430 Sometimes the determination not to

become overweight can yield additional problems

Body Image Problems and Media and Social Influences <431>- Anorexia Nervosa/ Bulimia Nervosa

Abnormal food-intake patters Including constant use of laxatives, erratic eating,

self-starvation, binge eating, etc.

Anorexia Nervosa Typically beginning in Adolescence, characterized

by an obsessive preoccupation with being thin. Anorexics: 15 below NBW, have a distorted body

image and think they’re fat. 2 Types (R&P)

(1) Self-starvation, often accompanied by compulsive, excessive exercise.***

(2) binge eating, purging or both along with laxatives.**** -Highest death-rate/suicide rate of any mental

disorder. Wear and tear on body medical complications

Bulimia Nervosa In bulimia Nervosa, a person regularly goes on

huge eating binges within a short time, usually 2 hours or less, and then may try to undo the high caloric intake with self-induced vomiting, strict dieting or fasting, excessively vigorous exercise, or laxatives, enemas, or diuretics to purge the body. Not abnormally underweight (may even be

overweight) More common than anorexia (3%men/women) Little evidence of bulimia historically

Obsessed with their weight and shape.

Use and Abuse of Drugs Substance abuse: harmful use of alcohol or other

drugs Can lead to substance dependence (addiction)

Physiological Psychological, or both.

Addictive drugs are especially dangerous in adolescence bc they stimulate pars of brain that are changing in adolescence

Negatively impacting development of child Risk factors: difficult temperament; poor impulse control

and a tendency to seek out sensation; family influences (genetic predisposition) ; early and persistent bx problems (particularly aggression); academic failure. -Early use leads to greater tendency for drug abuse

Influences on Smoking/Drinking As with hard drugs, the influence of older

siblings and their friends increases the likelihood of tobacco and alcohol use in younger adolescents. Counteracted by:

Rational Discussion with Parents Discouraging or limiting drinking

Media Influences Depictions of smoking/drinking and other drug

use increase and influence likelihood of adolescent participation in such acts

Depression Characterized by irritability, boredom

and/or inability to experience pleasure. Subject to Depression : Girls> Boys

During Maturation

Risk Factors: Anxiety, fear of social contact, stressful life events,

chronic illnesses such as diabetes or epilepsy, parent-child conflict, abuse or neglect, alcohol and drug use, sexual activity, and having a parent w/ history of depression.

1:5 Bipolar (mania, depressive)

Death in Adolescence 2006: 71% of adolescent death (ages 10-24) due to

Motor vehicle crashes, homicide, unintentional injuries, and suicide.

Suicide- readily available guns Generally, boys 5X more successful

GLBT- unusually high suicide rates and attempted suicide rates

Young people engaging in suicidal acts have histories of emotional illness, typically.

Can be reduced by the presence of: sense of connectedness to family and school, emotional well-being, and academic achievement.

Telephone Hotlines- Common Intervention

Protective Factors: Health in Context Study of 12,118

7-12th Graders- looked at risk/protective factors affecting four major aspects of adolescence.

Emotional Distress and Suicidal Bx Involvement in fighting, threats of violence, or use of

weapons Use of cigarettes, alcohol and Marijuana Sexual experience, including age of sexual initiation and any

history of pregnancy.

Adolescence who get emotional support at home and are well-adjusted at school have the best chances of avoiding the health hazards of adolescence