Growth and Development: Puberty, Adolescence, and Early Adulthood

Practice flashcards covering physical, psychosocial, moral, nutritional, and health characteristics of puberty, adolescence, and early adulthood.

What is puberty (or preadolescence), when does it normally commence, and how long does it take to complete?

Puberty is a period of rapid physical growth that normally commences between ages $11$ and $14$ and takes an average of $2\,years$ to complete.

Which physical milestones mark the end of puberty and the beginning of adolescence in girls and boys?

Puberty ends (and adolescence begins) with the onset of menses (menarche) in girls and the production of sperm in boys.

What are the four major physical changes associated with the pubescent period?

The four major changes are rapid physical growth, changes in body proportions, development of primary sex characteristics (sex organs), and development of secondary sex characteristics.

How does the growth spurt during puberty progress in terms of timing and body parts affected?

Growth spurts occur earlier in girls than in boys. The feet are usually the first body part to show growth spurt effects, followed by the legs and trunk.

What are the expected height and weight gains for adolescent boys and girls during puberty?

Boys grow $4\,inches$ to $12\,inches$ ($10\,cm$ to $30\,cm$) and gain $15\,lb$ to $65\,lb$ ($7\,kg$ to $30\,kg$). Girls grow $2\,inches$ to $8\,inches$ ($5\,cm$ to $20\,cm$) and gain $15\,lb$ to $55\,lb$ ($7\,kg$ to $25\,kg$). Overall height increases by $20\%$ to $25\%$.

What are primary sex characteristics, and what controls their maturation at puberty?

Primary sex characteristics are the gonads (sex glands). They are present at birth but remain inactive until puberty, when maturation is stimulated by gonad-stimulating hormones from the adenohypophysis (anterior pituitary).

What are the male gonads, where are they located, and what is their function?

The male gonads are the testes, located outside the body in the scrotum. They produce male sex cells (sperm) and testosterone; functional maturity is indicated by ejaculation.

What are the female gonads, where are they located, and what is their function?

The female gonads are the ovaries, located in the pelvic cavity. They produce female sex cells (ova or eggs) and female sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone).

What is menarche, and what is its median age of onset?

Menarche is the first menstrual flow, indicating that a girl is capable of reproduction. Its median age of onset is $12$ to $13\,years$.

What are the typical duration and blood loss parameters of the adolescent menstrual cycle?

The menstrual cycle lasts $21$ to $45\,days$ in $90\%$ of adolescent girls, stabilizing to $21$ to $34\,days$ in $60\%$ to $90\%$ of girls by the third year. Average blood loss is $30\,mL$ to $60\,mL$.

What secondary sex characteristics develop in adolescent boys?

Pubic hair appears sparse/lightly pigmented then becomes dark, coarse, and curly; axillary and facial hair appear next; skin thickens; hair grows on arms, legs, shoulders, and chest; and the larynx and vocal cords enlarge, deepening the voice.

What secondary sex characteristics develop in adolescent girls?

Fat distribution changes, pelvic and hip bones widen and round, breasts develop through increasing fatty tissue and mammary gland maturation, and hair appears in the groin (pubic hair) and axillae.

What secondary sex characteristics develop in both adolescent boys and girls?

Enlargement of sebaceous glands (producing more oil and causing acne) and enlargement of apocrine sweat glands in the armpits and groin (producing characteristic odorous secretions).

What motor development changes and spinal conditions are characteristic of teens?

Teens experience initial clumsiness due to rapid physical growth, followed by improved eye-hand coordination, dexterity, muscle strength, endurance, and size. Posture may involve slouching, sometimes complicated by scoliosis, which is more common in girls.

What percentage of U.S. high school students identify as LGBTQ+, and what challenges do they face?

About $8\%$ to $16\%$ of U.S. high school students identify as LGBTQ+ and face heightened risks of rejection, prejudice, and bullying.

At what age is the HPV vaccine recommended for optimal STI prevention?

The HPV vaccine is recommended for boys and girls at ages $11$ to $12\,years$.

Why do adolescent mothers experience twice the mortality rate of nonadolescent pregnant women?

The growing adolescent mother competes directly with the developing fetus for needed nutrients.

According to Erikson, what is the primary psychosocial task of adolescence?

The primary psychosocial task is the search for identity (answering the question, "Who am I?"), which begins with separating from the family to explore personal values.

How is ambivalence defined in the context of adolescent psychosocial development?

Ambivalence is having two opposing feelings about the same person or object, such as the conflict between seeking independence (freedom) and needing dependence (parental support).

How does moral development progress from early adolescence to later adolescence?

Early adolescents are typically at the conventional level (following rules and wanting trust), whereas later adolescents enter a transition phase where they question authority figures and test their own codes of ethics.

What are the recommended daily caloric intakes for adolescent girls and boys?

Adolescent girls require $2600\,calories/day$, while adolescent boys require $3600\,calories/day$.

What proportion of daily nutritional intake should consist of protein during adolescence?

Protein should make up $12\%$ to $16\%$ of daily nutritional intake.

What is anorexia nervosa, and how has its average age of onset shifted?

Anorexia nervosa is a complex emotional disorder involving willful starvation that leads to a loss of $25\%$ or more of body weight. The average age of onset has dropped from $13$\text{--}$17\,years$ to $9$\text{--}$12\,years$.

How do bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder differ?

Bulimia nervosa involves binge eating followed by purging (vomiting, laxatives, or excessive exercise), whereas binge-eating disorder involves losing control over eating without purging (making it the most common eating disorder in the U.S.).

What was the adolescent obesity rate for ages 12 to 19 between 2017 and 2018, and what health complications can result?

The obesity rate was $21.2\%$, which can lead to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

How many hours of sleep do adolescents need, and why?

Adolescents need about $8\,hours$ of sleep per night due to the rapid growth spurt occurring during puberty and early adolescence.

What are the leading and second leading causes of death among adolescents?

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death, while homicide is the second leading cause of death.

What are the primary sports injury patterns observed in adolescent boys and girls?

Contact sports (such as football and hockey) dominate injuries in boys, whereas gymnastics dominates injuries in girls.

What mental health screening guideline does the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend for adolescents?

The AAP recommends annual mental health assessments starting at age $14$, along with screening of the family.

What is the ranking of suicide as a cause of death in the 15- to 24-year-old age group?

Suicide is the third leading cause of death in the $15$\text{- to }$24\text{-year-old}$ age group.

What proportion of high school and middle school students use e-cigarettes (vaping)?

Vaping is used by $1\text{ in }5$ high school students ($20\%$) and $1\text{ in }20$ middle school students ($5\%$).

What percentage of prescription opioid overdose deaths occurred in 2016, and what medication reverses opioid-induced respiratory depression?

Prescribed opioids were involved in $40\%$ of overdose deaths in $2016$; Naloxone (Narcan) can reverse opioid-induced respiratory depression.

How is binge drinking defined for men and women?

Binge drinking is defined as consuming $5$ or more drinks in a row for a man, or $4$ or more drinks in a row for a woman, within a $2\text{-hour}$ window.

What age span is covered by early adulthood?

Early adulthood covers the period from age $20$ through the early $40\text{s}$.

How does growth in height differ between adult men and women in early adulthood?

Women usually attain full stature before their $20\text{s}$, whereas men continue to show vertebral growth until age $30$, adding about $3\,mm$ to $5\,mm$ in height.

At what age is peak bone mass attained, and what occurs in women after this age?

Peak bone mass is attained by age $35$, after which women experience a gradual loss of bone mass.

When do wisdom teeth erupt, and what is the major cause of tooth loss in adult years?

Wisdom teeth erupt toward the end of adolescence or in the early $20\text{s}$. Gum disease (gingivitis) is preventable and is the major cause of tooth loss in adults.

When is maximum cardiac output reached, and what happens thereafter?

Maximum cardiac output is reached between ages $20$ and $30$; after age $30$, cardiac output gradually declines as heart and vessels become less elastic.

What is vital capacity, and when does respiratory function peak for men and women?

Vital capacity is the ability of the lungs to move air in and out (decreasing between ages $20$ and $40$). Respiratory function peaks at age $25$ for men and age $20$ for women.

What happens to basal metabolic rate (BMR) and gastric secretions after age 30?

Gastric secretions and digestive juices diminish significantly after age $30$, and BMR decreases with advancing age, which can cause weight gain even without changes in diet.

What sunscreen protection factor (SPF) is recommended to prevent skin damage from ultraviolet rays?

Sunscreen with an SPF of $15$ or more is recommended.

How do reaction time and visual acuity change in young adults?

Reaction time increases (becomes slower) until age $25$. Visual acuity may decline after age $25$, and by age $40$, individuals often develop presbyopia (decreased ability to see close objects).

What are the normal adult ranges for resting heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure?

Resting heart rate is $60\,bpm$ to $90\,bpm$; respiratory rate is $12\,breaths/min$ to $18\,breaths/min$; normal blood pressure is $120/80\,mm\,Hg$ or less. Lifestyle treatment for high blood pressure starts at $130/80\,mm\,Hg$.

How frequently should smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector batteries be tested and replaced?

Batteries should be tested and changed if necessary twice a year ($2\text{ times per year}$).

How often and when should breast self-examination (BSE) be performed?

BSE should be performed once a month, approximately $1\,week$ after the end of the menstrual period.

What is Erikson's primary psychosocial task in early adulthood, and what tool is necessary for it?

The primary task is intimacy versus isolation. Introspection (self-reflection) is the tool needed to permit sharing innermost thoughts and achieving emotional intimacy.

Why are Millennials referred to as the "boomerang generation"?

Many Millennials return to live in their parents' homes after leaving, due to an inability to find good-paying jobs and affordable apartments.

Which group experienced disproportionately higher unemployment during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Women, particularly women of color working in lower-wage sectors (healthcare, education, service industries), experienced disproportionately higher unemployment.

What character trait distinguishes mature adults when facing problems or setbacks?

Mature adults have developed internal and external systems of control and restraint, allowing them to take responsibility for their actions and manage problems without losing self-control or sight of their goals.

How many hours of sleep do early adults need each night, and what substances exacerbate insomnia?

Early adults need an average of $7$ to $9\,hours$ of sleep per night. Excessive use of caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, sleeping pills, and other drugs worsens insomnia.