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1
Chapter 1
Puberty
I.
Overview
Menarche – time of first menstruation
Puberty – physical changes that indicate sexual maturity
Include the following:
1.
growth spurt
2.
development of primary sex characteristics
3.
development of secondary sex characteristics
4.
changes in body shape
5.
changes in circulation and respiration
A.
Endocrine System
Produces, circulates and regulates hormones
1.
hormones – secreted by endrocrine glands
2.
feedback loop
a.
hypothalamus monitors level of hormones; androgens (LH
and RF) and estrogens
b.
stimulates pituitary (LH and FSH)
c.
stimulates gonads (testes and ovaries)
d.
production of more hormones
II.
Somatic Development
A.
Body changes
1.
adolescent growth spurt
a.
result of release of growth hormone (thyroid hormones and
androgens
2.
peak height velocity – point of most rapid growth
3.
bone composition – become harder, more dense, more brittle; ends
with the closing of ends of the long bones
4.
asynchronicity in growth – adolescents grow disproportionately;
awkward and gawky
5.
weight increase – both muscle and fat
a.
boys – more muscle 3:1 (muscle to fat)
b.
girls- more fat 5:4
6.
increase in endurance – increase in size and capacity of heart and
lungs
7.
brain growth – also has “spurt”; change in size and thinking ability
B.
Sexual maturation
Tanner Stages – 5 stages of development of secondary sex characteristics
1.
sexual maturity in boys (see chart)
2.
sexual maturation in girls (see chart)
2
C.
D.
III.
Timing and pace of puberty
Variations in:
1.
onset, rate and end are highly variable
2.
boys start later and end later
3.
and early onset and fast maturers can be done before a late onset,
late maturer has started
4.
no differences in cultures or ethnic groups
Genetic and Environmental Influences
1.
Individual differences
a.
predisposition is genetic for rate and timing
b.
environment plays part in specific timing
1.
nutrition
2.
health related (i.e. chronic illnesses delays)
2.
Group differences
a. affluence decreases age of onset
b. variable within groups
c. secular trend – across time age of menarche has decreased
1. better nutrition
2. better sanitation
3. better health care
Psychological and Social Impact
A.
Immediate Impact
1.
puberty and self-esteem
a.
has little or no effect on boys
b.
affects girls if they change schools, date and enter puberty
in the same year
2.
moodiness
a.
little support for presence of moodiness
b.
most prevalent in early puberty when hormones fluctuate
c.
moods varied more with stress from life events
d.
delayed phase preference – patter of later sleeping and
rising preferred by adolescents
3.
puberty and family relations
a.
family stress increases regardless of early or late maturation
b.
seen in animal models – pushing away, seeking
independence
c.
need to reestablish a balance in parent-child relationship
because adolescents require a different type of parenting
d.
early maturers date sooner; seek more adult approval
4.
impact of menarche and first ejaculation
a.
less negative attitudes today perhaps because more
information is available and there is more discussion before
these events
b.
more positive attitude association with less menstrual
discomfort
3
c.
5.
whereas girls told mothers then friends about onset, boys
did NOT discuss first ejaculation with anyone perhaps
because of the negative connotations associated with
masturbation
early and late maturation
a.
boys
1.
among peers
a.
popular
b.
stronger feelings of positive affect
c.
attention
d.
strength
2.
late maturers seen as
a.
more childish
b.
negative self-concept
c.
less self-control
d.
less responsible
e.
less self-assured
3.
behavior
a.
early more likely to engage in antisocial or
deviant behavior (truancy, school problems),
drug and alcohol use
b.
possible because of association with older
peers
4.
mood
a.
early maturers – more temper tantrums
b.
later maturers – more time to prepare and
develop necessary skills i.e. intellectual
curiosity, social initiative, and exploratory
behavior
5.
later in life
a.
early
1.
more confident
2.
more responsible
3.
more conforming
4.
conventional
5.
humorless
b.
late
1.
more impulsive
2.
assertive
3.
insightfully
4.
inventive
5.
creatively playful
b.
girls
1.
early
a.
less popular
b.
less poised
4
c.
d.
e.
f.
too far ahead of the boys
g.
IV.
less expressive
more submissive
withdrawn
less assured
more emotional difficulties
1.
poor self-image
2.
higher incidence of depression,
anxiety, eating disorders, panic
attacks
3.
more deviant behavior; drug &
alcohol use, school problems, early
sexual intercourse
4.
perhaps because of earlier dating of
older boys
Physical Health
Focus on preventable situations; car accidents, violence, substance abuse,
unprotected sex.
Use of school-based health care centers most effective