Adolescence

1
Adolescence

• Physical Domain

2
Differentiation Adolescence and Early Adulthood

• Ages associated with stages
• How are these stages developmentally different?

3
Is adolescence a turbulent stage of development?

• View of storm and stress - exaggerates actual
  experiences
• Brooks-Gunn - Hormones have been given too much
  credit
• Hormonal changes actually predate adolescence
  (7-8)
• Outcomes are products of biological and social
  forces

4
Puberty

• Biological events
• Results in adult-sized body

5
Biological Change

• Most intense since infancy
• Biological changes
• Rate of growth
• Body size
• Rapid organ development
• Primary and secondary sex changes

6
Growth Trends

• Predictable order Distal-proximal
• Extremities first (feet, hands, head)
• Motor awkwardness
• Uneven growth
• Brain playing catch up

7
Female Development

• Age 10 Breast bud development
• Age 10 Height spurt begins
• Age 11.7 Peak of height spurt
• Age 12.8 Menarche (10.5 - 15.5)
• Age 13 Reach adult stature (10-16)

8
Male Development

• Age 11.5 Testicular changes
• Age 12 Enlargement of penis
• Age 14 Peak of height spurt
• Age 14 Voice changes
• Age 15.5 Reach adult stature
  
  (13.3-17.5)

9
Male Female Growth Patterns
10
Secular Trend

• Generational change
• Decline of age of menarche
• decreases 3 to 4 months per decade
• Factors Genetics, nutrition, physical health
• Secular gains have slowed in US, Canada, England,
  Sweden, Norway, and Japan

11
Psychological Impact of Puberty

• Increased awareness of body
• Early adolescence more concern with body image
• 1/3 males and 1/2 females dissatisfied with
  physical appearance
• Different concerns
• Positive correlation - attractiveness and social
  acceptance

12
Menarche and Self-Image (Koff)

• Large sample junior high females
• Compared girls drawings of male and female
  figures
• Post menarche - more sexual differentiation,
  female figure drawn first
• Conclusion Identity shifts with menarche -
  Greater awareness of own sexual identity and sex
  differences

13
Early and Late Development Females

• Early
• Peers not as likely to share interests
• Body image issues
• Sexualized
• teasing by peers
• Self-esteem may decline

• Late
• Original studies show disadvantage
• current studies show some positive correlates -
  higher levels of academic focus, less distraction

14
Early and Late Development Males

• Early
• Generally positive
• Admiration of peers
• Leadership roles

• Late
• Mixed effects
• Tend to have lower self-esteem
• Impact varies a great deal from person to person
  and culture to culture

15
Early and Late Maturation

• Cultural ideal and body image
• Fitting in with peers
• Youth experiencing puberty at about the same time
  as their friends tend to view the experience more
  positively, particularly females.
• Being very early or late is psychologically
  stressful, particularly for females.