Chapter 11- part 1: Adolescence

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman

Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved.

Chapter 11- part 1: Adolescence

Module 5 Physical Development in

Adolescence



PHYSICAL MATURATION



Growth During AdolescenceRapid Pace of Physical and

Sexual Maturation• Adolescence• Growth spurt

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Physical Manifestations of Puberty

• Rapid growth

• Development of primary and secondary sex characteristics

• Changes in body composition

• Changes in circulatory and respiratory systems

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Puberty in Girls

• Begins earlier for girls than for boys– Girls start puberty at around age 11 or 12,

and boys begin at around age 13 or 14– Wide variations among individuals

• Influenced by environment

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Onset of Menarche

• Varies in different parts of world• Begins later in poorer, developing

countries • Influenced by proportion of fat to muscle in

body• Related to environmental stress

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Puberty in Boys

• Penis and scrotum begin to grow at accelerated rate around age 12 and reach adult size about 3 or 4 years later

• Enlargement of prostate gland and seminal vesicles

• Spermarche around age 13

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What is a secular trend?

• Earlier start of puberty is example of significant secular trend– Pattern of change occurring over several

generations– Trends occur when physical characteristic

changes over course of several generations– Result of better nutrition over centuries

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Primary Sex Characteristics

• Further development of sex glands– Testes in males

– Ovaries in females

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Secondary Sex Characteristics

• Changes in genitals and breasts• Growth of hair:

– Pubic– Facial– Body

• Further development of sex organs

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Summary of Changes in Adolescence Sexual Maturation

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Changes in body composition

• Body fat– Quantity and distribution of fat

• Muscle– Quantity and distribution of muscle

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Changes in Circulatory and Respiratory Systems

• Increased in strength• Increased tolerance for exercise

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Onset of Puberty• Gradual process• Roles of hormones (Collaer & Hines, 1995)

– Organizational– Activational

• Endocrine system levels of sex hormones– Feedback loop– Hypothalamuspituitary glandgonads(ovaries and

testes)

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Adolescent Growth Spurt

• Weight increase• Skeletal changes• Accelerated growth spurt• Asynchronicity in growth

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Timing and Tempo of Puberty

• Variation of timing and tempo great

• No relationship between onset and rate of pubertal development

• Some differences; causes are inconclusive

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Psychological Impact of Puberty

• Biological changes can have direct impact on behavior

• Biological changes can impact self-image which in turn affects behavior

• Biological changes transform appearance which may affect reactions of others, especially peers

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Impact of Specific Pubertal Events

• Females– Menarche

• Positive attitudegains in social maturity, peer prestige, self-esteem

• Negative attitudegreater menstrual discomfort

• Males– Ejaculation

• Little research• May be related to how culture views masturbation

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Immediate Impact of Puberty

• Self-esteem– Modest decline among girls when

accompanied by other changes that require adaptationsocial context is important

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Nutrition, Food, and Eating Disorders:

Fueling the Growth of Adolescence



Nutritional Problems in Adolescence

• Poor eating habits– High consumption of junk food/sugar/fats– Large portion sizes– Lack of variety

• Related health concerns– Obesity– Osteoporosis– Diabetes– Heart disease

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Pubertal Changes and Eating Disorders

• Obesity• Anorexia Nervosa• Bulimia

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Obesity

• Ratio of body fat to muscle increases• Basal metabolism rate decreases• Overall physical appearance changes• 20% overweight; 5% obese; 15% seriously

overweight

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Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia• Definitions

– Anorexia=starvation to maintain low weight– Bulimia=binge and purge eating

• 1% anorexic and 3% bulimic• Higher incidence among females

• Disordered eating and body dissatisfaction reported across socioeconomic lines

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Adolescent Health

One of healthiest times in life span• Relatively low incidence of disabling or chronic

illness• Secular trend shows decrease in rates of death

and disability• Medical technology has improved health care for

children and youth



Adolescent Health

• Unhealthy behaviors– Drug use

• Violence– Self-inflicted and other-inflicted

• Risky activity– Unprotected sexual intercourse– Drunken driving

Period of relative great physical risknew morbidity and mortality



Brain Development and Thought: Paving the Way for

Cognitive Growth



A No Brainer?????

• Brain changes

• Growth spurts

• No clear 1:1 correspondence

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Use It or Lose It

• Brain produces oversupply of gray matter during adolescence which is later pruned back at rate of one to two percent per year

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The Primal Teen

““…as the teenage brain is reconfigured, it remains more exposed, more easily wounded, perhaps much more susceptible to critical and long-lasting damage than most parents and educators or even most scientists had thought.”

-- (Strauch, 2003)



From Research to PracticeImmature Brain Argument: Too Young

for the Death Penalty?• After reading the information on page 268,

answer the following questions:– Do you think that the penalty for criminal behavior

should be tied to the maturity of a criminal’s brain? Why or why not?

– Are there other aspects of physical development that should be taken into consideration in determining a person’s responsibility for criminal activity?

268



Booze It or Lose It!• Adolescent brain development produces

changes in regions involving dopamine sensitivity and production

• Adolescents may become less susceptible to effects of alcohol

• More drinks required to experience reinforcing qualities—leading to higher alcohol intake

• Alterations in dopamine sensitivity may create more sensitivity to stress, leading to further alcohol use

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Yawning of the Age of Adolescence

Sleep Deprivation• Adolescents go to bed later and get up earlier• Sleep deprivation takes its toll

– Lower grades– More depressed– Greater difficulty controlling their moods– Greater risk for auto accidents

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Review and ApplyREVIEW• Adolescence is a period of rapid physical growth,

including the changes puberty brings.

• Adolescents’ response to puberty range widely—from confusion to increased self-esteem.

• Adequate nutrition is essential to fuel adolescents’ physical growth. Changing physical needs and environmental pressures can induce obesity or eating disorders.

269



Review and Apply

APPLY• How can societal and environmental influences

contribute to eating disorders?

269



THREATS TO ADOLESCENTS’ WELL-BEING



Why do adolescents use drugs?

• Pleasurable experience • Escape• Peer pressure• Biological and psychological addiction

270



Alcohol: Use and Abuse • Incidence• Binge drinking

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Why do adolescents start to drink?

• Way of proving themselves• Release of inhibitions and tension and

reduction of stress • False consensus effect

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From Activity to Addiction

Adolescent alcoholics• Alcohol use becomes uncontrollable habit• Increasing ability to tolerate alcohol• Increasing need to drink ever-larger amounts of

liquor to bring about positive effects craved

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The Informed Consumer of Development

Hooked on Drugs or Alcohol?Signals• Identification with the drug culture• Signs of physical deterioration• Dramatic changes in school performance• Changes in behavior(Adapted from Franck & Brownstone, 1991, p. 593–594)

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Tobacco: The Dangers of Smoking

• Incidence• Differences:

– Gender– International– Racial

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Why do adolescents begin to smoke and maintain the habit?

• Advertisements in the media• Addiction• Parent and peer models• Adolescent rite of passage

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Developmental Diversity

Pushing Smoking to the Less Advantaged• Tobacco companies carve out new markets by

turning to least advantaged • Tobacco companies aggressively recruit

adolescent smokers abroad

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How Many?



Other Sexually Transmitted Infections

• Human papilloma virus (HPV) • Trichomoniasis• Genital herpes• Gonorrhea and syphilis

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Review and Apply

REVIEW• The use of illegal drugs and alcohol is

prevalent among adolescents as a way to find pleasure, avoid pressure, or gain the approval of peers.

• Despite the well-known dangers of smoking, adolescents often smoke to enhance their images or emulate adults.

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Review and Apply

REVIEW• AIDS is the most serious of the sexually

transmitted infections, ultimately causing death. Safe sex practices or sexual abstinence can prevent AIDS, although adolescents often ignore these strategies.

275



Review and Apply

APPLY• How do adolescents’ concerns about self-

image and their perception that they are the center of attention contribute to smoking and alcohol use?

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Chapter 11- part 1: Adolescence

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