Adolescent health

Question 1

What is Adolescence?

Answer 1

Unique developmental stage, between 11-25 years of age (not just teenagers, or puberty.

This is a period of rapid and significant developments and challenges.

• Social
• Emotional
• Physical (brain)

Question 2

What social developments are seen in adolescents?

Answer 2

• Establishing independence.
  
  • Parents to peers & increased responsibility.
  • Less acceptance of authority
• Developing self-identity and sexual identity
  
  • Desire for social acceptance
• Various transitions and changes in social circumstances.

Question 3

What Emotional Developments are seen in adolescents?

Answer 3

• Growing ability to regulate emotions
  
  • Early in adolescents - spontaneous out bursts
  • Greater reliance on amygdala
• Emotional outbursts can be triggered by barriers to development.
• Increased in connections between amygdala and other brain areas during adolescence.
  
  • Experience now and more complex emotions.
  • Increased control of emotions and behaviour

Question 4

Outline adolescent prevalence of Mental Health disorders?

Answer 4

• 10-20% of adolescents experience mental health disorders.
  
  • Most develop in late childhood / early adolescents.

Question 5

How does the brain develop in adolescence?

Answer 5

• Brain development during adolescence helps to explain many of the behaviours common during this period (including health-related behaviours)
• Brain continues to develop into 20’s
• Area of most radical change is prefrontal cortex
  
  • Responsible for high level cognitive function
  • Characteristic of adult behaviours/ abilities
• Understanding brain development and associated strengths/ limitations can enhance the care we provide to young people.

Question 6

What are some chronic disease impacts in Adolescents?

Answer 6

• Higher graft failure rates
• Diabetes-related complications due to worse DM control.