Adolescence

When is adolescence?

• chronologically- teenage years 13-19

• biologically - pre pubertal height spurt ends at full reproductive maturity

• sociological - between onset of puberty and when adolescents assume adult responsibilities

What re the jobs of adolescents?

• physical changes

• adult identities

• survive

How many cm do boys and girls grow when the reach growth spurt?

boys - 9cm per year start at 13-14

girls - 8 ½ cm per year start at 11

What are the qualities of boys who go through puberty earlier?

• greater self assurance

• more attractive

• more masculine

• more popular

• increased substance use, more delinquency, more psychological issues

What are the qualities of boys who go through puberty later?

• more socially awkward

• misbehave in class

• display anxious behaviours

What are the adult qualities of boys who go through puberty earlier?

• domineering, responsible

• more self control

• rigid, conforming

• more advanced in career but difficulty dealing with stress

• more intimacy issues

• may be related to higher testosterone

What are the adult qualities of boys who go through puberty later?

• good sense of humour

• clearer insight into issues

• sophisticated understanding of themselves

• good intimate relationships

What are the qualities of girls who go through puberty earlier?

• greater independence

• more popular with boys

• poorer marks in school, increased delinquency

• earlier sexual experiences

• substance use, depression, body image issues

What are the qualities of girls who go through puberty later?

• good marks

• not as popular with boys

What are the adult qualities of girls who go through puberty earlier?

• difficult social relationships

• lower levels of education

• mental health and substance use issues

What are the adult qualities of girls who go through puberty later?

• higher levels of education

• continue to do well academically

What would you like to change about yourself?

Boys:

• 47% academics

• 23% personalities

• 14% physical appearance

Girls:

• 39% personality

• 27% academics

• 24% physical appearance

What were the results for the Australian adolescents body dissatisfaction study?

Boys ideal body:

• 34% thinner

• 33% match

• 34% fatter

Girls ideal body:

• 70% thinner

• 20% matched

• 7% ideal

What are the risk factors of negative body image?

• media consumption

• personality (perfectionist, OCD)

• stressful home environment

What are the qualities of adolescents with high body satisfaction?

• higher self esteem

• more positive peer relationships

What are the qualities of adolescents with low body satisfaction?

• risk of depression

• eating disorders

• exercise dependence

• steroid use

What is the secular trend of menstruation?

• average age declined - 12 years

• due to improved nutrition and health care

What are James Marcia’s 4 identity statuses?

Foreclosure: Didn’t think through crisis but made a commitment

Identity diffusion: didn’t think through crisis and didn’t make a commitment

moratorium: thought through crisis but didn’t stick to commitment

identity achievement: thought through crisis and stuck to commitment

What are the typical ages for Marcias stages

16-18 - just starting to think through issues carefully - most teens have diffused identity

early 20s - greatest increase is identity achievement

21- achievement or moratorium

24 - most will have reached identity achievement

What are the increasing rates during adolescence?

• accidents

• suicide

• alcohol and substance use

• violence

• reckless behaviours

• eating disorders

• risky sexual activity

What is the part of the brain that motivates us towards desires?

• nucleus accumbens

What is the prefrontal cortex?

• part of brain that develops last

• long term planning, complex reasoning, logical skills

• key to creativity, flexibility of thinking, adaptability