Student CNUR 106 Unit 7 2025

CNUR 106 Unit 7: Adolescence

• Age Range: 12-19 years

• Date: March 2025

Unit 7 Objectives

• Physical, Cognitive & Social Development:

  • Focus on relationships: family, peers, and sexual relations.

  • Integrate principles of growth and development into the educational process.

• Critical Learning Elements:

  • Physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development.

  • Communication and language development.

  • Cultural influences.

  • Emotional and social development.

  • Sexual health and health screening.

  • Prevention of health risks.

What is Adolescence?

• Characteristics:

  • Marked by transitions with no clear starting point.

  • Notable features include:

    • Puberty and hormone level changes.

    • Menarche (first menstruation) / Spermarche (first ejaculation).

    • Increasing interest in sex and dating.

Physical Development

• Biopsychosocial Development:

  • Healthy development relies on effective communication with adults regarding puberty and reproductive health.

  • Misunderstandings about physical changes can affect cognitive and social functions.

Puberty

• Hormone Balance:

  • Triggers a sequence of bodily changes.

    • Estrogen in girls

    • Testosterone in boys

  • Secular Trend:

    • The decreasing age of puberty onset affects boys and girls differently.

Body Image and Eating Disorders

• Concerns in Adolescence:

  • Increased focus on body image leads to disorders such as:

    • Anorexia nervosa

    • Bulimia nervosa

    • Binge-eating disorder

  • Potential health issues include:

    • Electrolyte imbalances, ruptured esophagus, high blood pressure, heart disease, etc.

Cognitive Development

• Piaget's Stages of Development:

  • 4th Stage (Formal Operational Stage):

    • Ages 11+: Capable of abstract thought, logical reasoning, and hypothetical thinking.

  • Variables:

    • Influenced by culture, gender, and context.

Information Processing

• Key Areas:

  • Executive functioning: attention, memory, cognition.

  • Attention Types:

    • Selective Attention: Focusing on one stimulus.

    • Divided Attention: Managing multiple stimuli simultaneously.

Critical Thinking

• Types of Thinking:

  • Convergent Thinking:

    • Finding one correct answer.

  • Divergent Thinking:

    • Exploring multiple answers.

  • Metacognition:

    • Thinking about one's own thinking and planning.

Cognitive Development: Adolescent Egocentrism

• Concept by David Elkind:

  • Self-centered thinking patterns:

    • Imaginary Audience: Belief that others are watching.

    • Personal Fable: Belief in personal uniqueness.

Risk-Taking Behaviors

• Common Risky Activities:

  • Alcohol consumption, drug use, reckless driving, unprotected sex.

• Behavioral Decision-Making Theory:

  • Weighing rewards against consequences.

  • Adolescents often prioritize immediate rewards and social acceptance.

TikTok Trends and Risks

• Nature of Trends:

  • Risks from challenges could lead to danger and health issues.

  • Importance of teaching adolescents about evaluating dangers and consequences.

Identity Development

• Erikson's Psychosocial Theory:

  • 5th Stage: Identity vs. Role Confusion:

    • Adolescents question their identity and aspirations.

    • Some conform to family/cultural values; others align with peers.

• Factors Influencing Identity:

  • Peer acceptance, personal space, and control.

Marcia's Identity Statuses

• Four Statuses:

  • Identity Confusion/Diffusion: No exploration or commitment.

  • Identity Foreclosure: Commitment without exploration.

  • Identity Moratorium: Active exploration without commitment.

  • Identity Achievement: Commitment after exploration.

Self-Concept and Self-Esteem

• Definitions:

  • Self-Esteem: Feelings about oneself.

  • Self-Concept: Stable opinions and beliefs about oneself.

  • Adolescents may experience rapid changes in self-presentation.

Influences on Self-Esteem

• Girls:

  • Higher self-esteem with supportive friendships; lower when lacking approval.

• Boys:

  • Self-esteem linked to independence and influence in romantic relationship

Morality in Psychosocial Development

• Influences on Moral Development:

  • Culture, upbringing, and negative experiences can shape moral reasoning.

  • Positive parenting can encourage moral behavior and peer relationships.

Sexual Development

• Sex and Gender:

  • Sex: Biological differences.

  • Gender: Socially constructed roles and characteristics.

  • Terms:

    • Transgender: Identity does not match assigned gender at birth.

    • Non-binary: Identifying outside of male/female norms.

    • Cisgender: Identity matches assigned gender.

    • Heterosexual/Homosexual: Attraction to opposite/same sex.

    • 2SLGBTQ+: Inclusive term for sexual and gender diverse individuals.

Romantic Relationships

• Development:

  • Typically emerge during adolescence, often short-lived.

  • Emotional impacts stronger than other relationships (friends, family, school).

Challenges in Adolescence

• Common Issues:

  • Mental health concerns, teen pregnancy, STIs, substance use, accidents, suicide.

Mental Health Concerns

• Prevalence:

  • Anxiety disorders and depression are most common, particularly among girls.

  • Major depression affects 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 10 boys during puberty.

Teaching Strategies and Nursing Interventions

• Effective Approaches:

  • Establish trust, ensure confidentiality.

  • Include adolescents in care planning; respect their autonomy.

  • Utilize peers for support and allow for flexibility within safe limits.

Short Term Learning Strategies

• 1:1 instruction ensuring confidentiality; peer group discussions on health challenges.

Long Term Learning Strategies

• Validate personal experiences; allow exploration and testing of beliefs within supportive environments.