Lecture 2: Biological foundations

Question 1

What are the 3 major changes occurring during adolescence?

Answer 1

biological, cognitive, socio-emotional

Question 2

What does puberty trigger?

Answer 2

Physical changes Sexual changes

Brain changes

Question 3

What does puberty influence?

Answer 3

Sleep needs, Mood, Nutrition and activity, Personal, social, parental and cultural responses

Question 4

What is puberty?

Answer 4

Becoming sexually mature (13 for girls, 14 for boys). Estrogen and progesterone for females. Testosterone for men. Primary and secondary sex characteristics. Puberty is driven by genetics, and can be influenced by both parents

Question 5

When do girls typically hit puberty?

Answer 5

between 8-14

Question 6

When do boys typically hit puberty?

Answer 6

between 10-16 years, 2 year difference on average

Question 7

Explain how early onset of puberty can be influenced by health?

Answer 7

Earlier onset associated with Improved nutrition and health. But also obesity in girls
(Surplus of calories–> increased body fat–> signals to brain initiation of puberty) Inconsistent findings for boys

Question 8

Explain how late onset of puberty can be influenced by health?

Answer 8

Later onset associated with Increased exercise/activity. Poor nutrition, Chronic disease

Question 9

What is the order of growth?

Answer 9

Asynchronous growth

Extremities first- hands, feet, head, Followed by arms, legs, Torso, chest, shoulders last. Leads to gangly look

Question 10

Age of menarche (first period) in relation to SES in various countries

Answer 10

Earlier in girls: From higher income families and Living in urban centres (vs. rural)

Question 11

How is the age of puberty onset influenced by altitude?

Answer 11

Onset later in higher altitudes: ~3 months/100m increase, Not clear why. Possible factors: Poorer nutrition, Hypoxia Energy expenditure

Question 12

Can exposure to toxins influence puberty?

Answer 12

Bit more controversial- inconsistent findings, Argued that hormones in the environment may lead to early onset puberty (E.g., plastic containers, cosmetics, chemicals, toys) chemicals in pesticides. Need more studies

Question 13

How do environmental stressors influence puberty?

Answer 13

Earlier for girls living in high stress environments
Examples from the research:Family stressors, Economic stress, Prolonged sexual or physical abuse. Release stress hormones that may trigger puberty
Know less about how stress might affect boys. Multiple individual and environmental factors also at play

Question 14

Has the age of puberty decreased or increased over time?

Answer 14

Downward trend. Average age of puberty declining

Question 15

What are some personal responses to puberty?

Answer 15

• Feel more grown up
• Increase in social maturity
• Prestige in peer group
• Increased self consciousness
• Embarrassment
• Stress
• Fear
• Body image

Question 16

What are some psychological responses to puberty?

Answer 16

Emotions/mood swings. Hormone levels & fluctuation in levels (e.g., cortisol)
Additional social challenges. Self consciousness and self awareness
like Emphasis on body image and Social comparisons (media, peers)

Question 17

What are some changes in the parent child relationships?

Answer 17

Relationships become less close (lots of trial and error). Increased conflict, Less physical closeness. But- as always, there is variability and Also variability across cultures

Question 18

What are some changes in terms of sleep needs?

Answer 18

Difficulty falling asleep before 11pm

Difficulty waking up/being alert before 8am. Teens need 8-10 hours of sleep each night. More than half get 7 or less

Question 19

What is delayed phase preference?

Answer 19

Delayed phase preference (late bedtime, late wake time) (melatonin is released later in the day for teenagers compared to adults and children)

Question 20

Reduced sleep in teenagers is associated with?

Answer 20

Negative outcomes in: Health, psychosocial health, school performance, and risky behaviours

Question 21

What are the negative health outcomes of reduced sleep?

Answer 21

Health:Increase in obesity and Decrease in physical activity
Psychosocial health: Increase in depression, anxiety, withdrawal, Increase in irritability, emotional instability, Increase in fearfulness, Increase in hyperactivity, Increase in aggression,
Decrease in self esteem

Question 22

What are the negatives impacts on school performance associated with reduced sleep?

Answer 22

Decrease in academic performance (grades, tardiness, absence) Decrease in cognitive functioning (memory, learning, attention and decision making)

Question 23

What are the risky beahviours associated with reduced sleep?

Answer 23

Increase in smoking, drinking, drugs, Increase in unprotected sexual activity, Risky driving behaviours, Drowsy driving

Question 24

Early onset for girls

Answer 24

• Less popular
• Self consciousness
• Body image concerns
• Depression, lower self esteem
• Involvement with older boys
• Delinquency, substance use
• Parental conflict
• School difficulties
• Envied by other girls (social prestige)
• Attention from boys (+/-)

Question 25

Early onset for boys

Answer 25

• More positive self images
• Athletic advantages
• Popularity with peers/social prestige
• Leadership maturity
• Less parental conflict
• Early romantic relationships
• Achieve greater success in later life
• More delinquency, substance use, sex
• Depression
• School difficulties

Question 26

Late onset puberty for girls

Answer 26

-Fewer problems than early onset 
But…
-Depression
-anxiety
-Teasing
-Late daters
-Social disadvantage in high school
-Self conscious
-Neg body image pre puberty
-More pos body image after puberty

Question 27

Late onset puberty for boys

Answer 27

• More problems than early onset
• Depression, anxiety
• Less traditionally atheltic/attractive
• Teasing, less popular
• Self conscious
• Neg self perception
• Alcohol use, delinquency
• Lower grades
• Social initiative, -curiosity
• More creative, insightful as adults

Question 28

What is the maturational deviance hypothesis?

Answer 28

Adolescents who develop earlier or later relative to peers experience psychological distress and manifest behaviour problems. Worse for those who deviate the most from the norm. Early maturing girls & late maturing boys

Question 29

What is the puberty conundrum?

Answer 29

Earlier onset with better health nutrition, living condition, SES. Yet also associated with social, emotional, academic and behavioural difficulties (at least for girls)

Question 30

What are the good aspects of emerging adulthood?

Answer 30

-Fewer hormonal and physical changes
-Reached a stage of full hormonal maturity
-Physically equipped for sexual reproduction
Time of peak physical health
–Oxygen intake, cardiac output
–Reaction time
–Athletic performance, physical agility
–The immune system most effective, less susceptible to disease

Question 31

What are the bad aspects of emerging adulthood?

Answer 31

-More likely to adopt unhealthy behavioural patterns and lifestyle choices: Poor nutrition, Lack of sleep, High stress, less activity/sport participation, Substance use/abuse peaks, More likely to contract STI’s, Death from behaviours (car accidents, homicide)