Question 5 (1)

Question 5 (1)

1. 1. PUBERTY

   • A period of time during which a young person attains an adult-sized body and becomes capable of producing offspring.
   • Accompanying rapid body growth are changes in physical features related to sexual functioning such as Primary and Secondary sexual characteristics.
     • Menarche usually occurs 10,5 to 15,5 for North American girls.
     • Spermache usually occurs between 12 and 16 years.
       • Generally develop 1,5 years later than girls.

2. 2. SHORT TERM CONSEQUENCES

   • EARLY VS LATE DEVELOPERS
     • BOYS (early mostly positive)
       • EARLY
         • Studies: Both adults and peers view them as more: RIPS
           • Relaxed
           • Independent
           • Self -Confident
           • Physically attractive
           • Popular with agemates, more likely to be athletic stars, good at school.
             • HOWEVER: More likely to report slightly more psychological stress and problem behaviours than on-time and late-maturers.
       • LATE
         • Expressed more anxiety and depressed mood than on-time counterparts. AD
           • Much more dissatisfaction with body image.
     • GIRLS (early mostly negative)
       • EARLY
         • Viewed as: (WUSLAD)
           • Withdrawn
           • Unpopular
             • Lacking in Self-confidence
               • Fewer Leadership positions and achieved less well in school
                 • Anxious, prone to Depression.
           • More involved in deviant behaviours e.g. early sexual activity, drugs, drinking etc.
       • LATE
         • Viewed as: LLiPS
           • Leadership positions, Lively
             • Physically attractive, Sociable
   • Two trends
     • Effected by: culture and agemates.
       • 1. How closely the adolescent's body matches cultural ideals of physical attractiveness
         • 2. How well young people fit in physically with their agemates.
     • 1. Physical Attractiveness
       • Relates to how closely the adolescent's body matches cultural ideals.
         • For females it is the slim, girlish shape that favours LATE developers, while for males it is the tall, broad shouldered favouring the EARLY developing boy.
       • Body image: conception of and attitude towards one's physical appearance.
       • Caucasian girls particularly have internalised cultural ideas of female attractiveness, early maturers more likely to have poor body image which can lead to low self-esteem. (body image a strong predictor of self-esteem.)
         • Negative effects of pubertal timing on emotional adjustment greatly amplified when combined with other stressors.
     • 2. Importance of fitting in with peers
       • Physical status in relation to peers explains differences in adjustment between early and late developers.
         • ie. early maturing girls and late maturing boys fall at the extremes in physical development, and thus have difficulty.
       • Adolescents feels most comfortable with peers who match own level of biological maturation.
         • Because few agemates of same pubertal status available, early maturing seek out older companions, often encourage them into activities not yet ready to handle.
           • Hormonal influences on brain stronger for early maturers, magnifying receptiveness to sex etc.
     • CONTEXT
       • Greatly effects whether likelihood pubertal timing will have negative effects
         • Economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods
           • Exposure to deviant peers
           • Exposure to chronic sever stressors.
           • Have few social supports, thus may have harsh or inconsistent parenting.
             • Predicts deviant and antisocial behaviour.

3. 3. LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES (DLEED)

   • 3.1. DEPRESSION
     • Early maturing boys in studies have tended to show good long-term adjustment, recovery from the slightly higher depression by 13
     • Early maturing girls: tend to remain depressed, poorer quality relationships, lower life satisfaction can be carried into adulthood.
     • Researchers: impaired social relationships play a major role.
     • Childhood family conflict associated with early puberty, particularly in girls, more likely to enter adolescence with social and emotional difficulties.
   • 3.2. LOWER EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
     • Esp. found in early maturing girls.
     • Stresses of puberty interfere with school performance, unfavourable peer pressures.
     • Can effect tertiary education/job prospects.
   • 3.3. EATING DISORDERS
     • Early maturing girls more likely to have poor body image, have increased risk of Anorexia/bulimia
       • Life threatening/persistent
   • 3.4. EARLY SEXUAL ACTIVITY
     • Can become a long-term problem: STD's, pregnancy, HIV/AIDS
   • 3.5. DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE
     • Could become a lifelong problem, may increase risk for HIV AIDS for risky behaviours while drunk/high.
   • Early maturing girls in particular are prone to lasting difficulties.

4. CONCLUSION

   • Rapid, complex physical & psychological changes of puberty make teenagers vulnerable to certain problems depending on context.
   • Interventions that target at-risk early maturers (particularly girls) are needed, and potentially for late-maturing boys.
     • Includes: educating parents, teachers, providing counselling and social support systems: will be better prepared to handle the challenges.