Adolescence Lecture Notes

Introduction to Adolescence

• Age Range: 12 to 19, potentially up to 21
• Significant brain development occurs up to early 20s
• Includes physical, emotional, and social changes

Physical Changes: Puberty

• Hormonal Changes: Key drivers of physical changes
  • Growth Hormones: Thyroxine and growth hormone for physical growth
  • Sex Hormones: Androgens (e.g., testosterone) and estrogens (e.g., estrogen, progesterone)
• Sex Hormones and Effects
  • Androgens: Active in cisgender boys, contributing to hair growth, muscle development, metabolism, and shoulder broadening
  • Estrogens: Active in cisgender girls, contributing to breast tissue growth, fat storage in thighs and hips, and menstrual cycle
• Developmental Differences
  • Primary Sexual Characteristics: Genitals
  • Secondary Sexual Characteristics: Visible changes like breast growth, facial hair
  • Onset of Puberty: Varies from 9 to 15 years
  • Early Bloomers vs. Late Bloomers: Differing social outcomes for boys and girls

Trends and Interventions

• Puberty onset age decreasing due to better nutrition
• Use of puberty blockers for gender transition: Delays puberty, allowing time for decision-making
  • Concerns: Decreased bone density, potential long-term fertility effects, but low regret rate in decisions

Brain Development

• Prefrontal Cortex: Not fully developed until early 20s
  • Key for executive control, planning, self-regulation
• Reward Network Changes
  • Increased focus on rewards vs. risks
  • Impacts decision making and risk-taking behavior
• Sleep-Wake Cycle
  • Later sleep onset and need for more sleep, often unmet due to societal schedules
  • Sleep deprivation impacts executive function, emotional regulation, and physical health

Nutritional Challenges

• Increased calorie needs during growth spurts
• Time constraints lead to poor eating habits
• Common onset of eating disorders, especially in girls

Risky Behaviors

• Sexual Behaviors
  • 70% have sex by 19; 14% do not use contraception consistently
  • Media influence and lack of sexual education
  • Authoritative parenting leads to better-informed teens
• Substance Use
  • 50% of teens try drugs; 62% abuse alcohol
  • Early use increases addiction risk

Cognitive Development

• Piaget's Formal Operational Stage
  • Development of hypothetical-deductive reasoning and propositional thought
  • Not all reach this cognitive stage
• Self-Focus and Idyllic Views
  • Main character syndrome; Dunning-Kruger effect (overestimating knowledge)
• Gender Differences in Mental Abilities
  • Boys: Better spatial reasoning
  • Girls: Better verbal reasoning
  • Cultural influences on these differences

Conclusion

• Adolescence is a critical period with a mix of opportunities and challenges.
• Supportive environments and education can mitigate risks and promote healthy development.