Ch. 14: Adolescent Development

Adolescence is a critical period characterized by significant physical, emotional, and social changes, which can greatly influence an individual's identity development and interpersonal relationships.

Introduction

  • Developmental Stage

    • Bridges childhood and adulthood

    • Puberty occurs during this stage

  • Occupational Roles

    • Patterns of behavior individuals identify with

    • Guide expected behaviors and responsibilities

    • Intentionally built during adolescence

Body Functions and Structures

Brain and Nervous System Development

  • Brain Growth and Myelination

    • Continues during adolescence, resulting in increased neural connectivity

    • Neural Connectivity

    • Physical links between brain areas with common developmental trajectories

    • Prefrontal Cortex

    • High neural connectivity with limbic and striatal systems

    • Limbic System

    • Responsible for emotional life and memory formation

    • Striatal System

    • Influences planning and modulation of movement pathways

    • Supports executive function processes

    • Activated by reward and novel/intense stimuli

    • Research Focus

    • Adolescent brain as a sensitive period for increased risk-taking and sensation-seeking

    • Temporal Discounting

    • Also known as the invincibility fallacy

    • Young individuals discount long-term consequences for immediate rewards

Physical Development

  • Puberty

    • Occurs during adolescence

    • Tanner Stages

    • Used to evaluate stages of puberty

    • Refer to page 308 for stages 1-4

    • Sexuality

    • Encompasses sexual acts and complex emotional elements

    • Bone Growth

    • Epiphysis:

      • End portion of long bone; initially separated by cartilage

      • May sustain damage during competitive athletic training

    • Peak Velocity of Growth

    • Occurs around 13.5 years in boys and 11.5 years in girls

    • Weight Gain

    • Occurs at rate comparable to height; environmental factors play a role

Sleep

  • Sleep Needs

    • Adolescents require more sleep than younger children

  • Circadian Rhythm

    • Inner clock undergoes changes due to puberty

    • Changes in brain activity contribute to sleep patterns

    • Increased school demands and extracurricular activities impact sleep

    • Refer to Table 14-1 on page 309 for sleep hygiene strategies

Motor Performance Skills

  • Gains

    • Achieved in motor skills until about 15 years for females and into early 20s for males

  • Fine Motor Movements

    • Example skills include writing and operating machinery

  • Correlation with Physical Growth

    • Development of motor performance skills relates to physical changes

Specific Mental Functions

  • Memory, Reasoning, and Judgment Changes

    • Three major changes occur:

    • Semantic Memory

      • Memory for concepts and meanings expands with experience

    • Metacognition/Higher Order Reasoning

      • Literal thinking without ability to generalize

    • Judgment

      • Sensible decision-making influenced by education and cognitive training

Activities and Participation

  • Learning and Applying Knowledge

    • Adolescents develop independence in skills like communication and mobility

  • Continued Development in Self-Care

    • Domestic tasks, interpersonal relationships, social participation strengthen

  • Process Skills

    • Problem-solving and decision-making based on experiences; refer to Table 14-3 on pages 312-314

  • Communication Functions

    • Require verbal and non-verbal skills for peer interactions

    • Pragmatics

    • Following social rules in non-verbal communication

    • Attention to behavior necessary for effective interactions

    • Role of social media in reinforcing relationships

    • 90% of 13-17 year-olds engage in social media

    • Risks include inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and misunderstanding of privacy

    • Sexting

      • “Sending, receiving or forwarding sexually explicit messages or images” (Berkshire District Attorney, 2010)

Mobility

  • Modes of Transport

    • Includes buses, taxis, trains, and learning to drive

Self-Care

  • By age 12, most children have acquired basic ADLs (Activities of Daily Living) skills

  • Autonomy Expression

    • Choice of dress signifying independence from parents

  • Hygiene Issues

    • Body odor arises due to hormonal changes and hair growth

  • Learning About Menstruation

    • Females begin to navigate the use of feminine hygiene products

  • Self-Esteem Issues

    • Preoccupation with personal care linked with self-image

Domestic Life

  • Chores

    • Youth may be responsible for room cleanliness, making beds, yard work, etc.

  • Medication Management

    • As teens grow, they assume more responsibilities in managing medications

Interpersonal Interactions

  • Identity Formation

    • Establishing a distinct personality informed by sociocultural context

  • Resilience

    • Ability to cope with stress and adversity; seen as 'bouncing back' from challenges

  • Gender Identity

    • Understanding oneself as male or female

  • Sexual Identity

    • Long-term patterns of emotional and sexual attraction which could be directed to varying genders

    • Exploration of sexual identities may require time and acceptance

Relationships

  • Informal Social Relationships

    • Teens rely on friends for information, role models, and behavioral standards

  • Family Relationships

    • Serve as a resilience factor and protective element in development

    • Independence seeking may create tensions with parents

  • Intimate Relationships

    • Ability to share trust and personal experiences with select individuals

    • Early romantic relationships often are fleeting but contribute to development of long-term intimacy skills

    • Same-sex attraction may necessitate more time for individuals to accept their identities

Major Life Areas

Education

  • Transition from single classroom in middle school to multiple subjects

  • Emphasis on behavioral conformity in school

  • High school students prepare for adulthood through academic and social activities

  • Academic attainment influenced by family background

Work and Employment

  • Work

    • Refers to means of livelihood

  • Vocation

    • Affective aspect associated with one’s work

  • Teen Employment

    • Many teens work to support families; early jobs may include babysitting or yard work

  • Vocational Choices Influences

    • Reality constraints, individual aptitudes, emotional appeal, and personal values impact career paths

Community, Social and Civic Life

  • Sports Participation

    • Recognized for promoting psychosocial growth

    • Six factors in sports that enhance psychosocial development:

    • Encouragement of peer cooperation

    • Positive facilitation

    • It challenges personal comfort zones

    • Links enjoyment with effort

    • Importance of training innovation

    • Shared risk fosters cohesion

  • Leisure Contexts

    • Influences on leisure activities from environment and access

    • Often spontaneous, e.g., hanging out with friends

    • Structured leisure activities include music and drama classes

Health and Impairment

  • Environmental Influences

    • Impact on health and lifestyle choices (e.g., substance use, sexual behaviors)

  • Eating Disorders

    • Manifestation becomes common during these years

  • Substance Abuse

    • Adolescent exposure to alcohol and drugs

  • Depression

    • Affects up to 28% of teens; characterized by:

    • Increased irritability, aches and pains, social withdrawal

  • Adolescent Difficulties

    • Include issues like unplanned pregnancy, STDs, and obesity