Week 9a

ADOLESCENCE NOTES

PUBERTY MILESTONES

  • Puberty: Physical changes that culminate in sexual maturity.

    • Pituitary Gland: Located in the brain; triggers other glands to release hormones, often referred to as the “master gland.”

    • Adrenarche: Process wherein the pituitary gland signals the child’s adrenal gland to increase its production of androgens (typically occurs at age 7-8).

    • Effects on development:

      • Growth of Ovaries (girls): Secrete estrogen, leading to female sexual organ development.

      • Growth of Testes (boys): Secrete testosterone, facilitating male sexual organ development.

      • Adrenal androgens: Important for girls; trigger the growth spurt and development of pubic hair.

PRIMARY SEX CHARACTERISTICS

  • Males: Growth of testes and penis.

  • Females: Growth of ovaries, uterus, and vagina.

SECONDARY SEX CHARACTERISTICS

  • Males: Voice deepening, growth of facial and body hair.

  • Females: Development of breasts and body hair.

TIMING OF PUBERTY

  • Influenced by:

    • Diet

    • Exercise

    • Body fat

    • Hereditary factors

    • Behavioral factors

GIRLS' SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT

  • Development components include:

    • Breast and pubic hair development

    • Growth spurt

    • Menarche: The onset of the menstrual cycle, occurring around age 12.7; body fat must reach a critical threshold of 17% for menarche to commence.

    • Secular Trend: Observations indicate a decline in the average age of menarche; increases in average height among children and adolescents; from mid-18th to mid-19th century in Western countries, improvements in health led to girls showing signs of secondary sex characteristics 1-2 years earlier than previous generations, due in part to the rising prevalence of overweight children.

BOYS' SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT

  • Aspects include:

    • Development of genitalia and pubic hair, along with a growth spurt.

    • Spermarche: The onset of sperm production, typically around ages 12-13, occurring before the peak of the growth spurt.

    • Near the end of this sequence, males experience beard growth and a lowered voice.

CHANGES IN OTHER BODY SYSTEMS

BRAIN

  • Grey Matter: Volume decreases.

  • White Matter: Volume increases.

    • Grey Matter Characteristics:

    • Peak volumes in different brain regions occur at various times, with the frontal cortex maturing last.

    • Frontal Cortex: Vital for executive functions such as planning, decision-making, and problem-solving.

    • White Matter Characteristics:

    • Increases in four major brain lobes, the corpus callosum, and regions associated with speech (Wernicke's and Broca's areas).

SKELETAL SYSTEM

  • Growth rate of 5-13 cm/year; girls typically cease growth earlier than boys.

  • Developmental patterns:

    • Normal cephalocaudal (head-to-toe) and proximodistal (inside-out) growth patterns are reversed, contributing to adolescent awkwardness and lack of coordination.

    • Jaws grow forward, and foreheads become more prominent.

    • By ages 17-18, boys often catch up to or surpass girls in joint development and coordination.

MUSCULAR SYSTEM

  • Muscle fibers become thicker and denser.

  • Strength increases, with boys generally showing greater increases than girls, influenced by hormonal differences and exercise patterns.

    • Girls: Fat proportion increases while muscle proportion decreases.

    • Boys: Fat proportion decreases while muscle proportion increases.

HEART AND LUNGS

  • Increase in size; heart rate decreases.

  • Enhanced capacity for prolonged physical effort.

    • Boys tend to have better physical activity capacities than girls.

BODY WEIGHT AND FITNESS

  • Rise in the rate of overweight and obese adolescents since the 1980s.

  • Recommended physical activity guidelines:

    • 60 minutes/day of moderate-vigorous activity for ages 12-17.

    • Less than 2 hours/day of screen time.

    • Approximately 8-10 hours of sleep.

  • Statistics indicate about 10% do not meet any of the three guidelines, while approximately 5% meet all three.

ADOLESCENT SEXUALITY

  • Discovery of sexual attraction is a gradual process, with final steps occurring in early adulthood.

  • Sexual orientations can include:

    • Heterosexuality

    • Homosexuality

    • Bisexuality

    • Transgender identities.

SEX EDUCATION

  • Studies indicate that sex education is not linked to delaying sexual activity; abstinence-only programs do not result in delayed first intercourse.

  • Increasing condom availability does not heighten sexual activity but enhances condom use among sexually active teens.

TEEN PREGNANCY

  • Significant drops in teen birth rates (ages 15-19), reduced by 50% since the 1960s.

  • Over half of teen pregnancies result in abortion.

  • Babies born to teen mothers often reach developmental milestones slower than those born to older mothers.

  • Correlated conditions for higher rates of teenage pregnancies:

    • Initiation of sexual activity at an early age.

    • Socioeconomic challenges including poor, single, or uneducated family backgrounds.

    • Having a mother who experienced early pregnancy (before age 20).

  • Lower occurrences of teen pregnancy in:

    • Girls with strong academic success and aspirations.

    • Those who communicate well about sex and contraception with their mothers.

ADOLESCENT HEALTH

  • Increased “sensation-seeking” behavior leading to recklessness and higher accident rates, particularly among boys; car accidents are the leading cause of death for teens aged 15-19.

  • Young men experience more spinal cord and brain injuries than other groups.

DRUGS AND ALCOHOL

  • Average onset age for first drug use is 13-14, though drug and alcohol use among youth in Canada has declined since the 1970s.

  • Generally, substance use increases with age.

  • Commonly used substances:

    • Alcohol

    • Marijuana

    • Cigarettes

    • Approximately 44% of students in grades 7-12 have used alcohol in the past year.

    • Ages 16-19 show the 3rd highest rate of impaired driving charges.

  • Influencing factors for adolescent alcohol use include brain deviations, temperament, and parenting style.

TOBACCO

  • Youth smoking rates in Canada have decreased since the 1970s, while vaping has risen; 25% of students have tried vaping.

  • Peer influence plays a significant role in adolescent smoking, particularly among ages 15-17.

EATING DISORDERS (EDs)

  • Bulimia: Characterized by binge eating followed by purging, leading to physical consequences including:

    • Tooth decay.

    • Stomach irritation.

    • Decreased body temperature.

    • Disturbed body chemistry.

    • Hair loss.

  • Anorexia: Involves self-starvation with physical effects such as:

    • Starvation effects.

    • Sleep disturbances.

    • Missed menstruation.

    • Pain insensitivity.

    • Hair loss.

    • Low blood pressure and heart problems.

    • Approximately 4-18% may die from starvation; many others face cardiovascular complications.

  • EDs usually arise from the disparity between a young person’s internal image of a desirable body compared to their perception of their own body, particularly within a cultural emphasis on thinness.

DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE

  • Depression is connected with dysfunction in the pituitary gland and can be exacerbated by parenting behaviors, stress, and low self-esteem.

    • Smoking and time spent on social media are linked to higher depression rates.

    • Depression can hinder academic achievement as it interferes with cognitive functioning, including memory.

    • It is the second leading cause of death for those aged 15-19 (with car accidents being the first).

    • Increased risk for suicidal ideation can stem from peer victimization, stressful life circumstances, and feelings of hopelessness.

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS IN SUICIDES

  • Factors include:

    1. Depression.

    2. Personality disorders.

    3. Behavioral problems.

    4. Family history of psychiatric disorders or substance abuse patterns.

    5. Triggering events: Often involve disciplinary crises with parents or experiences of rejection/humiliation.

    6. Altered mental states: Feelings of hopelessness, lowered inhibitions typically from alcohol use, or feelings of rage.

    7. Opportunities: Availability of means such as firearms or medications.

  • Most medical treatments focus on alleviating depression associated with suicidal behavior.

PIAGET’S FINAL STAGE: FORMAL OPERATIONAL STAGE

IMPORTANT SKILLS

  1. Systematic Problem-Solving: A method of addressing a problem by testing individual factors.

  2. Hypothetico-Deductive Reasoning: The ability to draw conclusions from hypothetical premises.

COMMON MANIFESTATIONS OF HYPOTHETICO-DEDUCTIVE REASONING

  • Naive Idealism: The conception of an ideal world in contrast to reality.

  • Adolescent Egocentrism: The perception that one’s thoughts, beliefs, and feelings are unique.

  • Personal Fable: The belief that the events in one’s life are controlled by a personal narrative.

  • Imaginary Audience: An internalized set of behavioral standards, often derived from peers that can exaggerate self-reactions and elevate unrealistic expectations for the future.

ADVANCES IN INFORMATION PROCESSING

  • Information processing becomes faster and more efficient.

    • Improved metamemory allows for better awareness and understanding of personal memory systems.

    • Enhanced knowledge base enables better strategies for problem-solving and retention.

  • By ages 14-15, adolescents' metacognitive and metamemory skills surpass those of younger children.

  • Summarization skills, particularly in written form, improve during the later stages of adolescence.

PSYCHOANALYTIC PERSPECTIVES

FREUD

  • The post-pubertal years constitute the final stage of development known as the Genital Stage, during which individuals reach psychosexual maturity.

    • The primary developmental task involves channeling the libido into healthy sexual relationships.

ERIKSON

  • Identity vs. Role Confusion:

    • Adolescents work toward achieving a sense of self-identity, defining unique characteristics and how they manifest across various ages, situations, and social roles.

    • Role Confusion can lead to identity crises, psychological conditions marked by emotional confusion as the individual navigates towards a mature identity.

IDENTITY ACHIEVEMENT THEORY - MARCIA

  1. Crisis: A phase of re-examination where old values and choices are reevaluated.

  2. Commitment: The resolution produces commitment to specific roles, values, goals, or ideologies.

IDENTITY STATUSES

  1. Identity Achievement: Person undergoes a crisis and commits to ideological or occupational goals.

  2. Moratorium: Status of a person in crisis without commitment.

  3. Foreclosure: Individuals commit to roles without experiencing a crisis; they accept defined commitments from their culture or parents.

  4. Identity Diffusion: Individuals not in crisis and have made no commitments.

    • Movement through these statuses can occur throughout life, with adulthood allowing for more nuanced identity considerations.

  • Adultification: The phenomenon where children undergo developmental stages earlier than typical, often necessitating premature adult roles.

SELF-UNDERSTANDING

  • Self-definitions become increasingly abstract:

    • Reduction in emphasis on physical attributes (e.g., height) and more on ideological or belief systems (e.g., environmentalist).

  • By late adolescence, individuals recognize themselves through enduring traits, beliefs, personal philosophies, and moral standards.

  • Self-concepts vary by roles (such as student or partner) and influence behaviors and overall mental/physical health.

SELF-ESTEEM

  • Factors affecting self-esteem include:

    • Personal characteristics

    • Relationships with significant others

    • Lifestyle factors

    • Achievements

  • High Self-Esteem: Associated with positive developmental outcomes, including higher academic performance and resilience against peer pressure.

  • Low Self-Esteem: Linked to poorer mental and physical health.

GENDER ROLES

  • Gender Role Identity: Psychological aspects related to gender, which are socially constructed.

    • Evolving attitudes toward gender roles influenced by parenting and behavior.

    • Adolescents utilize perceptions of gender roles and sexuality to shape personal identity and social relations.

    • Masculinity and femininity are viewed along a continuum, allowing flexibility:

    • Androgynous individuals possess traits of both genders.

    • Undifferentiated individuals lack traits of both masculinity and femininity.

ETHNIC IDENTITY

  • Ethnic Identity: Sense of belonging to an ethnic group.

    • Teens from minority groups, particularly indigenous and recent immigrants, face dual identity development challenges:

    1. A need to establish individual identity parallel with peer development experiences.

    2. The necessity to cultivate an ethnic identity, which includes:

      • Self-identification with the specific group.

      • Commitment towards group values and attitudes.

      • Forming positive or negative attitudes about the group affiliation.

    • Challenges may arise from environments dominated by majority cultural concerns.

PHASES OF ETHNIC IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT

  1. Unexamined Ethnic Identity: Typical of younger individuals not interested in their ethnic identity.

  2. Ethnic Identity Search: Triggered by experiences prompting awareness of one’s ethnicity (e.g., experiences of discrimination).

  3. Ethnic Identity Achievement: Establishing secure membership and pride in one’s ethnicity while developing strategies to manage conflicts between the dominant culture and their ethnic identities.