Module 5.2: Physical Development in Adolescence

Question 1

How does puberty begin?

Answer 1

Hypothalamus releases elevated levels of Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone which triggers the rise of Lutenizing Hormone and Follicle-stimulating Hormone

Question 2

Increased FSH

Answer 2

onset of menstruation

Question 3

LH

Answer 3

initiates the release of testosterone and androstenedione

Question 4

What are the two stages that puberty can be broken into?

Answer 4

1. Adrenarche
2. Gonadarche

Question 5

Adrenarche

Answer 5

adrenal glands secretes increasing androgens (Dehydroepiandrosterone) between ages 6-8 yrs old

Question 6

DHEA

Answer 6

influences the growth of pubic, axillary, and facial hair

Question 7

Gonadarche

Answer 7

maturation of sex organs, which triggers the second burst of DHEA productions

Question 8

Primary Sex Characteristics

Answer 8

organs necessary for reproduction (e.g., ovaries, vagina, testes, penis)

Question 9

Secondary Sex Characteristics

Answer 9

physiological signs of sexual maturation that do not directly involve sex organs (e.g., changes in voice, breast enlargement, broad shoulders)

Question 10

Adolescent Growth Spurt

Answer 10

rapid increase in height, weight, and muscle and bone growth that occurs during puberty

Question 11

Spermarche

Answer 11

first ejaculation; principal sign of maturity in boys

Question 12

Menarche

Answer 12

first menstruation (monthly shedding of tissues from the lining of the womb)

Question 13

Secular Trend

Answer 13

children may be starting puberty earlier but spending more time to reach full sexual maturity

Question 14

Reasons for Secular Trend

Answer 14

1. May be due to higher standard of living, undernutrition, health, exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals
2. May also because they were firstborn, being born to a single mother and harsh maternal parenting practices
3. However, it was concluded that children who are exposed to high stress when young tend to reach pubertal milestone earlier than those who are not

Question 15

What illnesses are linked with early puberty/maturation?

Answer 15

1. Early maturation has been linked to adult health issues such as cancers, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease
2. Early puberty can be a predictor of adult obesity and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) – disorder causing acne, irregular periods, excess hair growth, and the growth of cysts on ovaries
3. Effects of early or late maturation are most likely to be negative when adolescents are much more or less developed than peers

Question 16

Developments in the Adolescent Brain

Answer 16

+ A steady increase in white matter, nerve fibers that connect distant portions of the brain, permits faster information and better communication across hemispheres
+ By mid- to late adolescence, young people have fewer but stronger, smoother, and more effective neuronal connections, making cognitive processing more efficient
+ Development of the brain starts at the back and moves forward
+ The underdevelopment of frontal cortical systems by comparison may help explain why adolescent tend to seek thrills and novelty and why many of them find it hard to focus on long-term goals
+ Peers tend to exert a stronger influence in adolescence in part because of a heightened neurobehavioral susceptibility to social reward cues and concurrent immaturity in the cognitive control system

Question 17

Where does the development of the brain start in the adolescent brain?

Answer 17

It begins from the back and moves forward.

Question 18

What is the most likely explanation as to why adolescents tend to seek thrills and novelty or find difficulty in focusing on long-term goals?

Answer 18

It is because of the underdevelopment of the frontal cortical systems as the development of the brain starts from behind going to the front. This is also why peers have a stronger influence in adolescence - it’s because of the heightened neurobehavioral susceptibility to social reward cues and concurrent immaturity in the cognitive control system.

Question 19

What does exercise affect?

Answer 19

Exercise affects both physical and mental health.

Question 20

What are the risks of a sedentary lifestyle in adolescence?

Answer 20

There is an increased risk of the ff:
1. Poor mental health
2. Obesity
3. Type 2 diabetes

And there is an increased likelihood of the ff:
1. Heart disease
2. Cancer

Question 21

Sleep in Adolescence

Answer 21

+ Children generally go to sleep later and sleep less on school days the older they get
+ Sleep deprivation can sap motivation and cause irritability, and concentration and school performance can suffer
+ After puberty, the secretion of melatonin takes place later at night, making it difficult for adolescent to go to bed early

Question 22

Risks of Sleep Deprivation to Adolescents

Answer 22

+ Saps motivation
+ Causes irritability
+ Concentration and school performance may suffer

Question 23

Why is it difficult for adolescents to sleep early (biologically)?

Answer 23

This is because after puberty, the secretion of melatonin (which is a hormone that helps people sleep) takes place much later at night, making it difficult for adolescents to go to bed early.

Question 24

Effects of being overweight in teenagers

Answer 24

Overweight teenagers tend to be in poorer health than their peers and are more likely have difficulty attending school or engaging in strenuous activity.

Question 25

Body Image

Answer 25

one’s perception, thoughts, and feelings about one’s body

Question 26

What kind of body image do girls express the highest satisfaction for and the lowest satisfaction for?

Answer 26

Girls tend to express the highest level of body satisfaction when underweight, some dissatisfaction when average weight, and the most dissatisfaction when overweight

Question 27

Anorexia Nervosa

Answer 27

distorted body image, severely underweight, may be withdrawn or depressed, and afraid of losing control and becoming overweight

Question 28

Bulimia Nervosa

Answer 28

short-lived binge eating and then purging by self-induced vomiting, strict dieting, excessive exercise, etc.

Question 29

Binge-eating Disorder

Answer 29

binging without purging of food

Question 30

What drugs are adolescents most likely to abuse?

Answer 30

A recent trend is the abuse of nonprescription cough and cold meds (dextromethorphan)

Question 31

As the brain undergoes significant change, what happens to teens during this period of the life span?

Answer 31

When the brain is undergoing significant structural and functional change, might be a period of the life span during which teens should be particularly sensitive to environmental influences

Question 32

Alcohol in adolescence

Answer 32

Alcohol interacts with inhibitory and excitatory receptor systems that are developing in adolescence, making them more sensitive to rewarding effects of alcohol and less sensitive to its negative features

Question 33

What changes happen in the brain to those who drink alcohol during adolescence?

Answer 33

Those who drink show changes in key prefrontal areas, including middle frontal gyrus, superior frontal gyrus, left frontal cortex, frontal pole, and left frontal gyrus – all areas involved in executive control

Question 34

Executive Control

Answer 34

a broad collection of higher-order cognitive functions that allow individuals to flexibly regulate their thoughts and actions in the service of adaptive, goal-directed behavior

Question 35

What is one sex-related risk factor for depression?

Answer 35

Being female

Question 36

Why is being female a risk factor for depression?

Answer 36

This may be due to biological changes associated with puberty

Question 37

What are the leading causes of death in the United States for teenagers?

Answer 37

1. Motor vehicle collisions
2. Suicides
3. Homicides

Question 38

Who are most likely to attempt suicide as adolescents?

Answer 38

Young people who consider or attempt suicide tend to have histories of emotional illness