12 - 21 adults

Question 1

Characteristics of healthy adolescent development

Answer 1

Physical changes occur rapidly:
Increased growth rate of skeleton, muscle and viscera.
Sex-specific changes.
Alteration in distribution of muscle and fat (dramatic gains in weight and height and changes to body contour).
Development of the reproductive system (development of primary and secondary sexual characteristics).

Hypothalamus begins to produce gonadotrophin-releasing hormones.
Name these hormones ( HINT BNNS502)

Onset of puberty biologically / genetically determined with the release and synthesis of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) during sleep in early to mid adolescence.

Question 2

secondary sex changes

Answer 2

Secondary sex changes breast, uterine and skeletal development
hip widening*, height and weight changes.
Height 8 cm per year for approx. 2 years.
Girls develop 2 years earlier than boys and are initially heavier (adipose).

First Menarche(onset of periods) approx aged 10 years.
Menstrual periods: 10 to 16.5 years old
First pubertal change: Breast development
Pubic hair development: Shortly after breast development.
Hair under the arms: 12 years old.

Initially, earlier development can cause girls to appear more mature than boys. Leading to societal expectations of girls being more responsible than boys – depending on current cultures.

Question 3

secondary sex changes

Answer 3

Secondary sex changes facial hair, pubic hair, muscle mass
voice changes, height and weight changes.
Approx.14yrs catch up and surpass girls in weight (muscle development)
Height: 11cm per year for approx. 2 years
First pubertal change: Enlargement of the testicles.
Penis enlargement: Begins approximately one year after the testicles begin enlarging.
Nocturnal emissions (or “wet dreams”): 14 years old.
Appearance of pubic hair: 13.5 years old.
Hair under the arms and on the face, voice change, and acne: 15 years old.
Boys weight gain due to muscle development as opposed to laying down of adipose tissue for girls.

Question 4

puberty

Answer 4

Early maturing boys perceived themselves more positively and had successful peer relations than late maturing boys reported.
When late maturing boys reached 30 yrs they developed stronger sense of identity and self awareness.

Early maturing girls are more confident in their body image than late maturing.
In late adolescence, late maturing girls had a stronger positive body image than their early maturing counterparts.

Question 5

Risk taking behaviour

Answer 5

Risk taking behaviour:
Sexual,
New experiences,
Independence.
For example, “I know I can handle the car at high speeds much better than others can” says 18 year old Jake.
Adolescents have a tendency to engage in risk taking behaviour prior to adulthood. These experiences help form the pre-frontal cortex connections in adulthood.

Question 6

Cognitive development

Answer 6

Adolescent Egocentrism - heightened self-consciousness.

Imaginary audience - belief that every one is as interested in their life as they are and can observe all achievements and faults.

Personal fable – an adolescent believes they are unique and invincible and what they feel has and can only happen to them.
A characteristic of imaginary audience is when an adolescents thinking causes extreme sensitivity to public criticism.

Question 7

abstract thinking

Answer 7

More abstract thinking.
Can hypothesis or ‘best guess’ through logic process.
Can think realistically about the future, goal setting.
Can speculate(hypothetically).
Can predict future events based on current situations.
Can use moral reasoning.
Need guidance for rational decision making!

Question 8

social relationships

Answer 8

Socially: relationships with parents and peers alter.
More time is spent outside of the family whereby independence and identity are pre-eminent.
Independence and Identity are important,
Brain maturation affects decision making and emotional wellbeing.

Question 9

biological

Answer 9

Biological changes trigger a heightened interest in body image

Question 10

sleep and melatonin

Answer 10

3Hormone melatonin in the pineal gland is released later in older adolescents (9:30 - 10:30 pm).
- teenagers experience greater difficulty awaking in the morning compared to children

Question 11

the adolescent brain

Answer 11

pre-frontal cortex
- reasoning and higher decision making
doesn’t finish developing until early adulthood

amygdala
- responsible for the perception of emotions such as anger, fear, and sadness, as well as controlling aggression

• corpus callosum (fibers connecting the left and right hemispheres) thickness and ability to process information improves