Growth and Development of Adolescents
Lecture 7
Dr. Wajed Hatamleh
Puberty: This is the beginning of the transition from childhood to adulthood
- The term puberty is restricted to PHYSIOLOGIC phenomena
- Notice the difference between the definition of adolescence and puberty
- Puberty is a stage of adolescence
has been declining an average of about 4 months per decade for past century
-body weight approximating
106 (plus or minus 3 pounds) can trigger menarche
include nutrition, health, heredity & body mass.
Adolescence is the period between 12 and 18 to 20 years, a time that serves as a
transition between childhood and adulthood.
y period (13 to 14 years), a middle period (15 to
16 years), and a late period (17 to 20 years).
The secondary sex characteristics that begin in the late school-age period
continue to develop during adolescence. Gender differences:
•Girls experience increase in height, weight, breast development, and pelvic
girth with expansion of the uterine tissue. Menarche (onset of the menstrual
period) typically occur about 2.5 years after puberty ‗s onset.
•Boys experience increase in height, weight, muscle mass, penis and testicle.
Nocturnal emission of seminal fluid is an overt sign of puberty.
Tanner stages of Sexual maturity
Physiological changes
 Pulse :reaches adult value of 60-80/minute
 Respiration :16-20/minute
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 Blood pressure: reaches adult values
 The sebaceous glands of the face neck and chest become
more active. the accumulation of the sebum can cause
acne
 Secondary sexual characteristics appear
In boys
 Increase in size of genitalia
 Swelling of the breast
 Growth of pubic, axillary ,facial and chest hair
 Change in voice
 Rapid increase in shoulder breadth
 Production of spermatozoa
In girls
 Rounding of pelvis
 Development of breast
 Change in the vaginal secretion
 Growth of pubic and axillary hair
 Menstruation (the first menstruation is called
menarche which occurs between the ages of 12-13
years.)
Cognitive development years:
formal operational stage
Adolescents can deal with a problem which does not have a
here and now basis. He can think of abstract ideas and can
think of more than one solution to a problem.
Psychosocial development
Developmental task: identity versus role confusion
In adolescence the child comes to see himself as a distinct
individual, who is somewhat unique and separate from others.
He needs to know “who he is ‘’ in relation to family and society.
If he is not able to form a satisfactory identity, role confusion
will be developed.
Emotional social development
 Adolescents show extreme mood swings.
 They get upset with even little things. They may fight,
complain or resist everything.
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 They try to be independent of parents as shown by
rejection or criticism. they have arguments with parents
and tend to spend more time outside the home with
friends
Psychosexual development
Developmental stage: genital stage
Adolescence is a period of psychosexual stress. Stress occurs
when they are physically ready for heterosexual relationships,
but are divided about it
 Sexuality is influenced by media, and society.
 Boys are more aware of their genital response than the
girls.
 Masturbation can be a concern mainly for boys and it is a
normal behavior.
 Parents should understand and support their children in
this period to develop a healthy sexual behavior when
they are ready to get married and start a family of their
own.
 Attraction to the opposite sex can be observed in the
adolescence.
Moral development
The adolescent is in the post conventional stage. In this period,
they understand that rules and laws are established for the
mutual good of the society. Values like life, liberty etc are
understood by them and are important for them.
Development of body image
 The rapid body growth results in revision of body image
 Peer evaluation of body changes is important
 They spend a great deal of time in hygiene, grooming and
selection of clothing
 Being different is difficult for the adolescent
 If the adolescent is not able to meet the expectations of
the group, or society, he may have altered body image.
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 Obesity, anorexia nervosa etc can be a manifestation of
body image disturbance
Physical Growth
puberty and the cessation of body growth.
and mature dramatically during this period.
Weight:
in weight, leading to the stocky,
slightly obese appearance of prepubescence; later comes the thin, tall
appearance of late adolescence.
Individual gain about 30%-50% of adult weight during adolescence.
-55 Ib) (608-25 Kg). On the other hand:
boys gain (15-65 Ib) (6.8-29.5 Kg).
Height:
of long bones. This occurs
at about 16 or 17 years of age in females and about 18 to 20 years of age in
males.
ut 20%-25% of adult height in adolescence.
-8 inches. And ceases at about age 16-17.
-12 inches. And ceases at about age 18-20
Pulse rate and respiratory rate decrease slightly (to 70 bpm and 20 breaths/min,
respectively), and blood pressure increases slightly (to 120/70 mmHg), reaching
adult levels by late adolescence
Teeth:
molars (wisdom teeth) between 18 and 21 years of age.
Puberty:
is the stage at which the individual first becomes capable of sexual
reproduction.
-18); a boy
enters puberty when he begins to produce spermatozoa (14-20)
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Puberty
Puberty (pu-ber-tee) is the name for when the body begins to develop and
change from a child's body into an adult’s body. A boy’s body physically
changes into a man's body and a girl's body changes into a women's body.
During childhood, growth is slow and steady; in puberty, change is rapid and
dramatic. During puberty an adolescent may experience growth spurts. Puberty
is the time in which sexual and physical characteristics mature. It occurs due to
hormone changes. The changes allow you to become capable of reproduction.
Sense of Intimacy
adolescence, they are ready to work on a second developmental task, that of
achieving a sense of intimacy (Erikson, 1993) . The ability to form intimate
relationships is strongly correlated with the sense of trust , the first
developmental task in infancy.
Promotion of growth and development
1. Nutrition
The total requirements increase during adolescence. The
requirements are
Energy: 2200-2400/day
Protein: 50-60 grams
Calcium: 3 grams
Vitamin D: 400 units
Need for zinc to accommodate for the sexual maturation.
During this period the need for iron also increases to
compensate for the menstrual losses.
Food guide for adolescents
Grain group (bread, cereals, rice etc): 6-11 servings
Vegetables (fresh, cooked): 3-5 servings
Fruits: 2-4 servings
Milk group: 2-3 servings
Meat group (meat fish, beans, peas):2-3 servings
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Encourage the adolescent to eat balanced diet and to avoid
junk foods.
2. Prevention of injury
Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of injury and
death in adolescents. To reduce morbidity and mortality health
education should be provided about safety programs. Driving
training should be given to the adolescents.
3. Prevention of drug addiction and smoking
The use of alcohol, smoking and drugs are increasingly
common in adolescents. This may be due to the peer pressure
or a means to cope with the many changes in their life. Health
education is an important measure to prevent this problem.
Parental support in times of stress can help them to adjust
better to the changes. Being a good listener itself helps a lot.
4. Sex education
Adolescents need education regarding how their body works
and how to adjust to the changes. Parents and schools need to
provide this information. If parents do not do this, they may get
wrong information from peers or unhealthy sources. Girls may
be concerned about the menstruation and bodily changes.
Teach menstrual hygiene even before menarche.
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