Physical Dev Adolescence and Early Adulthood

Ch 11 and 13

Define Adolesence

A time of maturing physically

• developing more adult ways of thinking

• gaining independence from family

• constructing new sense of identity (self concept)

Factors involved in the historical development of Adolescence period

Children would go straight from education to a job, no label for in-between

• longer education in childhood

• social constructs - adolescence period due to developed norms in society

Three Phases of Adolescence

• 11-14: Early Adolescence

• 14-16: Middle Adolescence

• 16-18: Late Adolescence

Storm and Stress (G. Stanley Hall)

• father of adolescence psychology, describing adolescence as “storm and stress”

  • fighting caregivers for identity and independence

• research disagrees, most parent and children relationships are healthy at this time

  • self fulfilling prophecy with parents manifesting storm and stress for children

    • influenced cultural contexts and demands, impact of expectations

Define Puberty

~4 year process (can be 1-7 years)

• biological transition into adulthood (ends before reaching adulthood)

• adolescents mature physically and become capable of reproduction

Physical Changes in Puberty

increase in bone density for both genders,

heart and lungs grow more for boys than girls

Onset

begins by 8 - triggers puberty to occur

• increases in testosterone and estrogen in children

Adolescent Growth Spurt

girls: ~10 years old (7-14)

boys: ~12 years old (9-16)

Secondary Sex Characteristics

characteristics not related to reproductive, signs of sexual maturity

• growth spurt, acne, lower voice, breasts and pubic hair occur

Primary Sex Characteristics

maturing of reproductive organs

girls: maturity in ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus and vagina

• Menarche: first mensuration ~12.5

boys: maturity of testes

• Spermarche: first ejaculation ~13

Influences of Pubertal Timing (biological and contextual influences)

• genes

  • similar to parents

• critical level of body weight

  • must have enough fat content for puberty to start - leptin

• social contexts

  • unsafe social contexts go through puberty later

Secular Trend

• the lowering of the average age of puberty with each generation

  • Why? healthcare and proper fat materials

• challenge: sexual maturity is early but adulthood is later

Pubertal Timing Effects in Boys

• generally viewed positively

• less research on boys than on girls

• internalizing and externalizing issues

  • anxiety, depression and aggression

Early maturing for boys

• starts before 9 (advantage for sports)

  • hanging out with people with similar size of physical structure (risk taking)

Pubertal Timing Effects for Girls

Early maturing: starts before age 8

• feeling negative about bodies, appearance, and menstruation

• increased risk of depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem

• negative view of pubertal timing

• higher risk of harassment and abuse

  • sexual risk-taking

  • substance abuse

Nutrition

increased nutritional needs

• growth spurt, bones and organs

Diets worsen

• fewer meals with family

• ½ of recommended quantity for fruits and veggies

• increased consumption of soda, fast food

• less exercise and more screen-time (11+)

Sleep in Adolescence

• delayed phase preference (change in sleep patterns)

  • melatonin for adolescence gets released 2 hours later

• needing about 9 hours of sleep each night

Grey Matter

peaks in early adolescence, declines while approaching adulthood

White Matter

made up of myelinated axons

increased in adolescence

Neurogenesis

occurs in prefrontal cortex

• changes in brain structure and function due to release of new hormones

• 2nd burst of synapsis

• myelination increase in prefrontal cortex and corpus callosum

Volume of cerebral cortex

girls peak: ~10.5

boys peak: ~14.5

Brain Development in Adolescence

larger, faster, more efficient

Prefrontal Cortex - system that is involved in planning, judgement, and decision making (executive functions)

Corpus Collosum - increased communication and coordination between brain hemispheres; processing information more quickly

Amygdala - negative emotions, fear and anger

Maturation of Amygdala (Limbic/Fast system)

part of dual systems model

using heuristics

• responsible for emotions

• develops quickly, before other regions can control it

• more active in adolescence than adults

Prefrontal Cortex (Slow System)

requires more time to mature

• related to executive control

Pruning

pruning decreases grey matter, while increasing white matter

molds prefrontal cortex

• increases cognitive functioning

Social Cognition in Adolescence

how we interpret our social world and interact with it

• misidentifying emotional expressions (mistaking neutral faces for anger)

  • impacting social interactions

Social Perspective Taking

allowing to take other’s perspective to guide behavior

• dependent on medial prefrontal cortex (less active in adolescence)

Risk Taking Behavior in Early Adolescence

universal, shifts in serotonin and dopamine

• neurotransmitters and limbic system - sensitive to rewards and adrenaline for risk taking

• seeking immediate rewards without considering consequences

• immature prefrontal Cortex - area responsible for making responsible choices (still developing in adolescence)

Risk Taking Behavior in Late Adolescence

• risky behavior decreases (balance between prefrontal cortex and limbic system improved)

Socioemotional Development In Early/Emerging Adulthood

• instability

• identity of exploration - starts in adolescence

• feeling in-between (child and adult)

• self-focus

• optimism

Contextual factors shaping Socioemotional development in Early Adulthood

• contexts shapes development (evidence of adulthood in only some cultures)

  • not universal, but found in many cultures

Physical Development in Early Adulthood

peak performance

• reproductive, circulatory, respiratory systems

Age 30: senescence

• age related decline in physical functioning with maintained endurance until around 60 years old

  • rate due to biology, experience, and environment,

Fertility and Parenthood

age of first birth increased

• emphasis on education and career in early adulthood

• decreased teen pregancies

Changes in Fertility

inability to concieve a baby after 12 months of tring

• fertility drops around mid 30’s

  • 7% of U.S. couples

Female Factors

• ovarian cysts

• failure to ovulate, fewer ova

Male Factors

• lower sperm quality starting in 40s - many explanations (stress, radiation, health, etc.)

Substance Use

rates begin in adolescnce, peek in early 20s, decrease by middle adulthood

• many reasons for personal decrease

Alcohol Use

consuming 4-5+ drinks in one sitting

most common drug in use

• rate of binge drinking declines in 20’s

• 8.7% of college students qualify

Marijuana

2nd most commonly used

sustaned use:

• cognitive difficulties, lower income and academics, conflict in interpersonal, poor life satisfaction

Tabacco

leading cause of death in U.S.

• most smokers start before age 18

• 13% of emerging adults

• 62% of young adults are social smokers

• e-cigarettes more harmful to lungs, 40% of adults report usage