Module 6 - Adolescence

• when does adolescence begin and end?

  - before used to be child -> adult

  - now adolescence widely accepted in post industrial cultures

  
  

  - onset of adolescence is marked by PUBERTY

  - ending is more difficult to define since adolescence ends when adult role is assumed

  - in many societies today, assuming full adult role is frequently pushed back (b/c of educational and personal pursuits)
• 6.1 video notes


  factors that can affect when puberty starts:

  > food intake, weight, sociocultural things

  
  

  Early Puberty:

  - beginning beforeage 10 for girlsor beforeage 12 for boys

  -girls(more negative)

  > delinquency, negative body image, eating disorders, substance abuse, early sexual behavior

  -boys(more positive)

  > popularity with girls, popularity with male peers, athletic success

  - parents might react differently to their kids

  > physical attention may change like how dads hug the early puberty girls which can impact the girls emotionally

  
  

  Late Puberty:

  -menarcheafterage 16forgirlsorlack of testicular developmentby14forboys

  -girls(more positive)

  > may feel left out initially (ex: purchasing bras or grown up clothes), generally more positive

  -boys(more negative)

  > substance abuse, problem behaviors (ex: acting out)

  
  

  big takeaway: "The biological aspects of puberty are experienced in a social context that allows us to predict social outcomes for adolescents."
• Puberty


  - Pubertal growth spurt usually begins in early adolescence.
• Pubertal growth spurt - girls vs boys

  Girls:

  - average age in NA

  * start: age 10

  * finish: age 16

  - more notable fat increase in arms, legs, trunk

  - girls may be dissatisfied w/ body proportions b/c of western societal views

  
  

  Boys:

  - average age

  * start: age 12.5

  * finish: age 18

  - more notable muscle mass increase

  
  

  Both:

  - adds 50% body weight

  - muscle mass increases
• Puberty domino effect


  - various hormones released

  - triggers development of secondary sex characteristics

  - 3 main steps:

  * hypothalamus: sends GnRH to Pituitary (master gland)

  * Pituitary: releases FSH, LH

  * Blood stream: increased production of sex hormones
• Puberty Domino - step 1 hypothalamus


  - hypothalamus: brain's key regulatory center

  * monitors body heat, water, nutrient levels

  * regulates glands and hormones, and sexual behavior

  * slowly produces gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) beginning in middle childhood, and it ramps up after middle childhood.

  * GnRH production thought to be associated with LEPTIN protein (stored in fat cells)
• Puberty domino - step 1 hypothalamus current hypothesis

  Current hypothesis:

  - pre pubertal growth spurts results in pre-teens achieving certain body fat threshold (19% of total body comp)

  - leptin levels increase -> hypothalamus triggered and starts greater GnRH production -> GnRH sent to pituitary gland
• puberty domino - step 1 hypothalamus current hypothesis supported evidence

  evidence:

  - underweight individuals not achieving puberty

  - overweight individuals being more likely to start puberty early
• Puberty Domino - Step 1: Hypothalamus ; summary


  growth spurt -> more fat -> more leptin -> hypothalamus triggered -> more GnRH production -> GnRH sent to pituitary
• puberty domino step 2 pituitary gland


  - pituitary gland is near hypothalamus

  - receives GnRH

  - gland is stimulated -> produces hormones called gonadotropins (includes follicle-stimulating hormones FSH and luteinizing hormone LH)
• puberty domino step 2 pituitary gland - FSH

  FSH

  - follicle stimulating hormone

  - stimulates maturation of ovarian follicles and aids with sperm production
• puberty domino step 2 pituitary gland - LH

  LH

  - luteinizing hormone

  - triggers production of sex hormones (androgens and estrogens) into bloodstream
• Puberty Domino - Step 2: Pituitary ; summary

  GnRH reaches pituitary -> gland stimulated -> produces gonadotropins (LH, FSH) -> FSH stimulates ovarian follicles and helps sperm production -> LH triggers sex hormone production (androgens + estrogens) into bloodstream
• puberty domino step 3 bloodstream

  - sex hormones

  - secondary sexual characteristics

  - signs of puberty

  - spermarche, menarche

  - secular trend

  - puberty timing
• sex hormones


  androgens, estrogens

  - responsible for development of secondary sexual characteristics (breast development, pubic hair growth, testicular growth, etc.)

  
  

  males - more androgens

  females - more estrogens
• first visible signs of puberty/secondary sexual characteristics

  - age varies when first visible signs of puberty occurs

  - usually occurs around time of pubertal growth spurt

  - in NA

  * girls: breast growth around 8-13 years

  * boys: testes and scrotal sac growth around 9.5-13.5 years
• Spermarche


  - age of onset for sperm emission

  - average age is 13 in NA

  - lower average than used to occur in 1800s and earlier.

  - fewer historical records available for spermarche
• menarche


  - first menstrual period

  - average age is 12.5

  - average age of menarche has dropped since early 20th century

  - now age plateaued

  - lower average than used to occur in 1800s and earlier.
• secular trend


  - decrease in average age

  - affects most members of society

  - something that decreases in average age over time
• secular trend of menarche

  - decreasing age at which girls experience their first period

  - secular trend observed since 1900 globally in countries when they modernize and have more accessible food

  - possible IMPROVED NUTRITITION increases critical body mass -> triggers younger menarche

  - average age stabilized, but still debate over the trends

  - role of obesity still considered some trends
• Boys v Girls on pubertal timing - early/late maturation


  - some adolescents begin puberty much later or much earlier than their peers

  - boys and girls respond differently to early and late maturation

  - berkeley longitudinal study

  - adolescent maturation research
• Girls - early maturing


  - higher risk for problems like early sexual activity, eating disorders, and poor body image

  - start and stop their growth spurt before others

  - attracts romantic attention at a young age

  - more likely to be dissatisfied with their figures
• Girls - late maturing


  - some may not enjoy having more boy-ish figure in early adolescence

  - don't have to deal with psychosocial effects of early maturation

  - don't have to deal with increased fat distribution during early adolescence

  - less risk for body image problems
• boys - early maturing

  - many social advantages

  - more likely to have successful relations with peers

  - positive self image

  - more prone to at risk behaviors

  - looking like adult at young age can result in others treating them like adults

  - looking like adult can encourage teens towards engaging in mature activities before they are emotionally ready
• boys - late maturing

  - at risk for some social and behavioral problems

  - physical attributes can result in them being rejected by their peers
• APA article on earlier puberty

  EM = early maturing

  G = girls

  B = boys


  EMG - increased risk for depression, substance use, early sexual behavior, eating disorder, disruptive behavior disorder, compare themselves negatively to peers, less confident, negative peer influence and parental influence (see them as more mature and give more freedom/act mature), higher socioeconomic background = more stress/depression, disadvantaged community = has maladaptive response to stress

  * African American girls earlier than European descent

  * hispanic girls in between, asian Americans last

  
  

  * early puberty causes: improved nutrition, increased stress, obesity,

  
  

  EMB - lower levels of depression, overtime increased anxiety + negative self image + stress
• Eating disorders


  - not only early maturing girls at risk

  - eating disorder involves more than simply eating small amount of food, some involve eating large amount of food

  - eating disorders are mental disorders
• eating disorders video notes - BN


  BULIMIA NERVOSA (BN)

  = typically develops b/w 16-19 years

  - primary feature:binging

  > uncontrollable eating (large amount of calories/food consumed, ex: under stress)

  - secondary feature:compensation

  > purging (getting rid of calories consumed, ex: anxiety feeling/stress about eating food -> vomiting)

  - third feature:overly concerned with body shape

  = Note: purging is not effective way to lose weight (50% calories lost from food consumed), laxatives only lose small fraction

  = patients are w/in 10% of body weight, so can't tell by looking at them that they have BN

  = MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE comorbid w/ dep + anx

  = FEMALES > MALES
• eating disorders video notes - AN


  ANOREXIA NERVOSA (AN)

  = typically develops in earlier adolescence

  - primary feature:intense fear of obesityandrelentless/successful pursuit of thinness;obsessive preoccupation with being thin;dramatic weight lossthroughsevere caloric restriction and/or purging

  > very strict diet, very strict focus on calories and food eaten

  = MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE comorbid w/ dep + anx

  = FEMALES > MALES
• eating disorders video notes - BE

  BINGE EATING DISORDER (BE)

  - primary feature: binge eatingwithout compensatory behaviors

  > binge = eating, w/in particular time frame, much more than what others would typically eat in that time frame and circumstance

  > accompanied withlack of controland feelings ofembarrassmentorself disgust

  = MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE comorbid w/ dep + anx
• eating disorders video notes - identity/causes

  - body going through changes

  - compare body to others fuels self body image and can lead to eating disorder

  - cultural component

  > ex: US not a lot of pressure for body type, other cultures that emphasize thinness may have more eating disorders patients

  - modeling/social learning

  
  

  - Cultural imperative for thinness

  > eating disorders more common in countries that emphasize thinness

  > more common among middle/upper class

  
  

  - Family

  > anorexia: successful, hard driving, concerned with external appearances (ex:upper class people that care about image)

  
  

  - Psychological issues

  > bulimia: lack of personal control, depression

  > anorexia: hypercontrol

  > both: preoccupation with how they appear others

  
  

  - psychotherapy required for treatment

  
  

  "Feeding and eating disorders are first and foremost mental health issues that then find expression in disordered patterns of eating"
• anorexia article notes


  - eating disorder characterized byrefusal to maintain healthy body weight, intense fear of gaining weight, and distorted body image

  - dangerous weight loss

  - starvation, excessive exercise, laxatives, vomiting, purging, dieting, calorie counting, etc nonstop pursuit to be skinny

  - dread eating, gaining weight, body image, intense stress

  -3 types anorexia: *restricting* (dieting, exercise); *purging* (vomit, laxatives); *atypical* (not underweight-maybe healthy, but same obsessions and symptoms)

  -causes: psychological (perfectionist, want to be good, people pleaser), family/social (cultural pressures), biological (genetics)

  -risk factors: body dissatisfaction, strict dieting, low self esteem, troubled family relationships, sexual/physical abuse, trauma, family history, emotional difficulties, etc.

  -effects: organ failure, anemia, brittle hair, foggy memory, depression, hormonal changes, bone loss, etc.

  -treatment: medical+nutritional treatment, psychotherapy, stay away from triggers, get back to healthy weight, eat more food+better relationship with food, change mentality about self and food
• bulimia article notes


  - eating disorder characterized byfrequent episodes of binge eating followed by extreme efforts to avoid gaining weight, often by vomiting/laxatives/excessive exercise.

  - vicious cycle of binging and purging/excessive dieting/exercise

  -bingesymptoms: lack of control over eating, secrecy with food, eating large amounts of food, alternating b/w overeating and fasting

  -purge symptoms: bathroom after meals, laxatives/diuretics/enema, vomit smell, excessive exercise

  -physical symptoms: calluses/scars on fingers, puffy cheeks, discolored teeth, not underweight, constant fluctuating weight

  -causes: poor body image, low self esteem, trauma/abuse, major life change/stress, appearance oriented profession/activity/presence

  -effects:dehydration!! low potassium, kidney failure, weight gain, bloating, abdominal pain, swelling, hormone change, acid reflux, constipation, sore throat, etc.

  -treatment: stay away from triggers, cognitive-behavioral therapy, stop cycle, healthy relation with food, work on mental health, change mentality about self and food, change eating patterns
• Anorexia nervosa


  - eating disorder that involves persistent need to lose weight

  - two subtypes: restricting, binge eating/purging
• Anorexia Nervosa - Subtype I: Restricting Type


  - individual doesn't engage in either binge-eating or purging behavior

  - weight loss occurs due to diet and/or exercise.
• Anorexia Nervosa - Subtype II: Binge-Eating/Purging Type


  - individual does engage in binge-eating and purging behaviors

  - this is still anorexia and meets qualities of anorexia (including significantly low body weight)

  - dieting and purging result dangerously low body mass index.
• APA treatment of eating disorders article

  - anorexia treatment=maudsleyapproach> family therapy that enlists parents aid in getting children to eat again- family invited for picnic, learns family meal patterns, each week parent describes what child ate and what works- child independence on food gradually strengthened- short term treatment, outpatient, but successful in long term- 2/3 patients regained normal weight without hospitalization and improved psychological functioning and family bonding (less critical)

  - bulimia treatment=psychotherapy>cognitive behavioral therapy: helps change unrealistic negative thoughts about appearance and change eating habits>interpersonal psychotherapy: helps improve relationship quality, address conflicts head on, and expand social networks
• 6.2 video notes


  Formal operations:-Hypothetico deductive reasoning= tested usingpendulum problem(length, weight, height, force)=scientific thinking= questions regarding this final stage> kids without experience in this field aren't gonna do well (ex: stem kids vs english lit kids)

  Brain development during adolescence:- during infancy & adolescence:overproductionfollowed byneural pruning- for adolescence,overproductionbyage 11-12followed by pruning-myelination- results infaster cognitive processing- shifting from usinglimbic systemforjudgementanddecision makingtofrontal lobelike adults- frontal lobe continues to develop, through mid-20s- limbic system - focused on emotion processing, decision making (kids)- adults use prefrontal cortex for decision making
• Cognitive development: piaget's final cognitive stage

  - formal operations- characterized by the ability to engage inabstract thinkingandhypothetico-deductive reasoning(systemic and scientific type of thinking)
• Pendulum problem


  - piaget testedhypothetico-deductive reasoning- students givenstrings of different lengthsandobjects of different weights- students told to discover whatinfluences the speedwith which a pendulum swings- piaget then tested students success at thinking logically and systematically thru theexperiment(like a scientist)- students were expected to come up withhypothesis/prediction for what they think might affect speed andtesteach- 4 logical hypotheses possible