CH 21 - Adolescence

Adolescence

Age range approximately 11-21 years

Primary focus of adolescence

Puberty, identity development, increasing independence

Hormone that initiates puberty

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)

Hormones released after GnRH

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH)

Purpose of FSH and LH

Stimulate gonads to produce sex hormones and gametes

Tanner stages

System used to describe physical development during puberty

Who enters puberty first

Females enter puberty about 2 years before males

Female puberty timeline

Breast budding → growth spurt → menarche

Timing of menarche

Occurs about 2 years after breast budding (Tanner Stage II)

Male puberty timeline

Testicular enlargement → penile growth → voice change

Primary sex characteristics

Reproductive organs (ovaries, testes, uterus, penis)

Secondary sex characteristics

Breast development, body hair, voice deepening, muscle growth

Turner syndrome

Genetic disorder female with only one X chromosome (45,X)

Turner syndrome key features

Short stature, webbed neck, delayed puberty, infertility

Klinefelter syndrome

Genetic disorder male with extra X chromosome (47,XXY)

Klinefelter syndrome key features

Tall stature, small testes, infertility, gynecomastia

Difference between Turner and Klinefelter

Turner = missing X; Klinefelter = extra X

Meaning of webbed neck

Common physical finding in Turner syndrome

Adolescent calorie needs (female)

Approximately 1600-1800 calories/day

Adolescent calorie needs (male)

Approximately 1800-3200 calories/day

Common adolescent nutrition patterns

Junk food intake, irregular meals, dieting behaviors

Anorexia nervosa key symptoms

Extreme restriction, fear of weight gain, distorted body image

Physical signs of anorexia

Lanugo, brittle hair/nails, osteoporosis, amenorrhea

Long-term risks of anorexia

Cardiac dysrhythmias, bone loss, infertility, death

Bulimia nervosa key symptoms

Binge eating followed by purging behaviors

Behaviors seen in bulimia

Vomiting, laxatives, excessive exercise, fasting

What you may NOT see in bulimia

Severe underweight (often normal weight)

Long-term risks of bulimia

Electrolyte imbalances, esophageal tears, dental erosion

Binge-eating disorder key features

Binge eating without purging behaviors

Most common eating disorder in the U.S.

Binge-eating disorder

Weight status in binge eating

Usually overweight or obese

Vaccines recommended in adolescence

HPV, DTaP booster, annual influenza

Purpose of HPV vaccine

Prevents HPV-related cancers and genital warts

HIV as a biological agent

Risk increased with unprotected sex and IV drug use

Common adolescent activities

Driving, sports, social activities, independence exploration

Major injury risks in adolescence

Motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, concussions

Helmet use importance

Prevents traumatic brain injury

Leading cause of death in adolescents

Unintentional injuries (especially motor vehicle crashes)

Second leading causes of adolescent death

Suicide and homicide

Smoking risks in adolescents

Addiction, lung damage, cardiovascular disease

Nicotine as a chemical agent

Highly addictive substance affecting brain development

Signs of substance addiction

Loss of control, continued use despite harm, withdrawal

Therapy options for addiction

Counseling, peer support groups, behavioral therapy

Role of peer support in recovery

Accountability, shared experience, reduced isolation

Parent role during adolescence

Gradually allowing independence while providing support

Healthy parental engagement

Set boundaries, encourage autonomy, maintain communication

Piaget stage in adolescence

Formal operational stage

Formal operational thinking

Abstract reasoning, hypothesis testing, future planning

Difference from concrete thinking

Can think abstractly, not limited to physical examples

Erikson stage in adolescence

Identity vs role confusion

Healthy identity development

Exploration of beliefs, goals, relationships

Signs of role confusion

Substance use, lack of goals, poor decision-making

Teen pregnancy definition

Pregnancy occurring in females under age 20

Risks of adolescent pregnancy

Premature birth, low birth weight, poor prenatal care

Health risks for teen mother

Anemia, hypertension, postpartum depression

Social risks of teen pregnancy

Interrupted education, poverty, limited resources

Nursing role in teen pregnancy education

Contraception education, prenatal care, support resources