Adolescence (12-20 years old)

Apart of Lifespan Development for Occupational Therapy Practice at UniSA

What is pubescence development marked by and what are the two main changes?

Hormonal change in rate of androgen production (testosterone in males and estrogen in females) and the two main changes during puberty are adolescent growth spurt and sexual maturation.

Adolescent growth spurt

A critical phase of development during puberty where the age of onset, intensity of growth, and duration are genetically determined (with some environmental influence)

What eight changes happen during the adolescent growth spurt phase?

• Rapid height growth (where peak height velocity tapers to reach ‘adult’ height.

• Weight changes (where 50% of adult body weight is gained during this time).

• Cephalocaudal trend reversal (where in males, shoulders broaden in relation to hips and for females, hips broaden relative to shoulders and waist).

• Decrease in body fat in males because of increase in muscular gain and increases in females (especially in the hips, thigs, and stomach to help with pregnancy).

• Cardiopulmonary growth occurs where heart increases in size by 50%.

• Weight of heart doubles.

• Resting heart rate decreases

• Lungs increases in size and capacity which decreases respiration rate.

What are primary and secondary sex characteristics?

Primary are related to the reproductive organs and secondary are more visible on the outside of the body like breast development, body hair, and appearing ‘lanky’.

Sexual maturation in males and females

• The biological process where an individual develops the ability to reproduce.

• In females, it’s known as menarche (where the first period occurs, typically between 10.5-15.5 years) and in males, it’s known as spermarche (where the first ejaculation occurs, typically between 12-16 years).

What are motor changes like during adolescence between males and females?

• Males are favoured by difference in motor performance for most activities, especially when it comes to skills which require strength, power, and endurance due to increased muscle mass, increased oxygen capacity, wider shoulder, longer legs, and narrower hips.

• Females are more advantaged in activities with skills that require balance and flexibility due to having a lower centre of gravity.

What is brain development like during adolescence (2 points)?

• The prefrontal cortex, key for decision-making and self-regulation, is the last brain region to mature. During adolescence, it undergoes synaptic pruning (reducing grey matter) and increased myelination (boosting white matter), gradually enhancing cognitive control and executive functions.

• The basal ganglia, which regulate actions and motor control, increase in volume during adolescence due to heightened synaptic activity. Its development, along with stronger connections to the cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus, supports emerging emotional and social regulation.

What is the consequence of the amygdala and hippocampus increasing in volume?

The prefrontal cortex is relatively slower to develop, leading to a lag between development which is one of the possible reasons for an increase in risk-taking behaviours because neurons are more responsible to excitatory neurotransmitters, leading to heightened emotional and reward-seeking behaviour.

Formal operational stage

The final stage of Piaget’s theory which marks the end of childhood and beginning of youth, where an individual is able to problem solve, use logical deduction, and critically think. At this level, the individual can dream without concrete reality, and deduction by hypothesis and judgement enables one to reason beyond cause and effect.

What are the three types of thinking?

• Abstract (not relying on being able to see things)

• Hypothectico-deductive (using logical deduction to make judgements beyond typical cause and effect)

• Propositional (ability to evaluate logic of verbal statements without referring to real-world circumstances)

What are two distorted opinions lead to self-consciousness and self-focusing?

• Imaginary audience (belief they are the focus of everyone’s attention and concern.

• Personal fable (where one is certain that others are observing and thinking of them, leading to an inflated opinion of own importance).

What is the significance of idealism and criticism during adolescence?

Adolescence typically imagines alternate realities and wanting to explore them and once understood others have strengths and weaknesses, adolescence become much more willing to work constructively for social change, where parents and teachers can help develop tolerance for criticism.

Why is there an increase in risk-taking behaviour (2 points)?

• Due to questionable decision making and poor impulse control where although older adolescence is more competent than younger, the best decisions are made when calm but, emotionally aroused to consider options.

• Emotions may also overwhelm decision making where higher train inhibition (self-control that helps manage impulses), leads to less risk behavioural choices and critical thinking skills also develop.

Stage V - Identity vs Role Confusion

The fifth stage of Erikson’s theory where high school/middle school kids have developed a sense of identity but if forced to conform or experiencing negative experiences, it could lead to an identity crisis.

What are the four main phases of identity development?

• Identity achievement

• Identity moratorium

• Identity foreclosure

• Identity diffusion

Identity achievement

The most ideal phase of identity development where individuals are committed to goals, values, and have a clearly formulated self-chosen performance.

Identity moratorium

The second most ideal phase of identity development where individuals are not yet definite about goals and values and continuously gathers information and making decisions before reaching identity achievement.

Identity foreclosure

The third least ideal phase of identity development where one is committed to goals and values without exploring alternatives, guided by authority figures (typically parents).

Identity diffusion

The lowest level of ideal phase of identity development where one lacks clear direction of any specific goals or values and not pursing them, who may feel overwhelmed or threatened by the idea of exploring options.

What is the significance of peer pressure in terms of psychosocial development (2 points)?

• It has huge impacts on psychosocial development during adolescence where there is a decrease in parental influence and increase in peer relationships.

• Cliques and crowds become key associations who can help to express or suppress identity-socially behaviours or form a group identity.

What can peer pressure influence in terms of encouraging or promoting social norms (seven points)?

• Risk taking behaviours like self-harm, risky driving gambling, and teenage pregnancy

• Poor personal health behaviours related to sleep, diet, and hygiene

• Obesity

• Eating disorders

• Sexually transmitted infections

• Substance abuse

• Social media