Summary #8 adolesense
Adolescence
= transitional stage of physical/psychological development from child to legal adult.
Puberty
= period that marks the start of adolescence, in which youngsters attain an adult sized body,
reach sexual maturity & become capable of producing offspring.
Puberty in known as a period of storm & stress
yes; more problems occur, but rate of disturbance only rises slightly. Same disturbance
rate as adult population.
Biological/social/psychological forces combine and influence adolescent development.
In tribal/village societies: puberty initiation/clear boundary childhood and adulthood
In western society: long-term education/dependency in parents prolongs adolescence,
confusing phenomena: in some contexts, they are adult while in others a child.
influences positive vs. negative emotions whilst reaching puberty
Adolescent growth spurt
= period of rapid height/weight acceleration in which boys lag behind 2-3 years on girls. In
this period the body gets a more adult-like appearance
Boys: start @ 13 years & peak @15 // male growth spurt is more intense and longer
Girls: start @ 10,5 years & peak @12 // preparing body (fat) size for carrying a baby (hips,
uterus, vagina mature)
Girls puberty commences @ 10
Boys puberty commences @ 12
, Factors that influence differences in puberty onset
- Heredity
+ similar onsets in monozygotic twins
- Weight
+ fat + leptin signal of sufficient energy for puberty + early onset puberty
(vice versa for thin/athletic kids)
- Poverty malnutrition delayed menche
- Negative early life experiences (low safety & security & stress)
Early puberty and reproduction as an adaptive measure
- (Infectious) diseases late menarche
- Ethnicity African American’s reach puberty earlier
Timing of puberty
o Precocious puberty
= Early onset of puberty (boys= 9 & girls=8)
GIRLS
withdrawn, low self-confidence, anxious, depressed, lower academic achievement &
leadership, poorer relationship with peers & family, small social networks, more alcohol
consumption
BOYS
relaxed, independent, self-confident, physically attractive *according to social ideals*
o Late puberty
GIRLS
lively, physically attractive *according to social ideals*, sociable, leadership
BOYS
more anxiety/depression
Early maturing girls & later maturing boys generally have a less positive body image (mainly
Caucasian girls)
= less positive conception of their physical appearance. Caucasian girls internalize beauty
ideals the most and thus have worse body image
Adolescents usually prefer peers who match their biological maturity
Early mature adolescents seek company of older adolescents
Early maturing adolescents engage in + risky behaviors that don’t match their actual age
Secular trend
= a shift in onset of a specific process (e.g.; the increasingly early onset of puberty/menarche
with time & trend in increasing height)
Adolescence
= transitional stage of physical/psychological development from child to legal adult.
Puberty
= period that marks the start of adolescence, in which youngsters attain an adult sized body,
reach sexual maturity & become capable of producing offspring.
Puberty in known as a period of storm & stress
yes; more problems occur, but rate of disturbance only rises slightly. Same disturbance
rate as adult population.
Biological/social/psychological forces combine and influence adolescent development.
In tribal/village societies: puberty initiation/clear boundary childhood and adulthood
In western society: long-term education/dependency in parents prolongs adolescence,
confusing phenomena: in some contexts, they are adult while in others a child.
influences positive vs. negative emotions whilst reaching puberty
Adolescent growth spurt
= period of rapid height/weight acceleration in which boys lag behind 2-3 years on girls. In
this period the body gets a more adult-like appearance
Boys: start @ 13 years & peak @15 // male growth spurt is more intense and longer
Girls: start @ 10,5 years & peak @12 // preparing body (fat) size for carrying a baby (hips,
uterus, vagina mature)
Girls puberty commences @ 10
Boys puberty commences @ 12
, Factors that influence differences in puberty onset
- Heredity
+ similar onsets in monozygotic twins
- Weight
+ fat + leptin signal of sufficient energy for puberty + early onset puberty
(vice versa for thin/athletic kids)
- Poverty malnutrition delayed menche
- Negative early life experiences (low safety & security & stress)
Early puberty and reproduction as an adaptive measure
- (Infectious) diseases late menarche
- Ethnicity African American’s reach puberty earlier
Timing of puberty
o Precocious puberty
= Early onset of puberty (boys= 9 & girls=8)
GIRLS
withdrawn, low self-confidence, anxious, depressed, lower academic achievement &
leadership, poorer relationship with peers & family, small social networks, more alcohol
consumption
BOYS
relaxed, independent, self-confident, physically attractive *according to social ideals*
o Late puberty
GIRLS
lively, physically attractive *according to social ideals*, sociable, leadership
BOYS
more anxiety/depression
Early maturing girls & later maturing boys generally have a less positive body image (mainly
Caucasian girls)
= less positive conception of their physical appearance. Caucasian girls internalize beauty
ideals the most and thus have worse body image
Adolescents usually prefer peers who match their biological maturity
Early mature adolescents seek company of older adolescents
Early maturing adolescents engage in + risky behaviors that don’t match their actual age
Secular trend
= a shift in onset of a specific process (e.g.; the increasingly early onset of puberty/menarche
with time & trend in increasing height)
