1. Adolescent Psychology
Dr. Sara Villanueva

2. Do you think the way people think about Adolescence has changed over the years?

3. Defining Adolescence The second decade of life (~10 to ~22)
Used to be considered the teen years (13-19) but now…
Period of adolescence has lengthened…why?
Young people maturing earlier
So many people delaying entering working world and marriage til their mid-20’s

4. Still tough to Define ‘Adolescence’
Is a biologically mature 5th grader an adolescent or a child?
Is a 20-year old college student who still lives at home an adolescent or an adult?
All depends on the boundaries one uses to define the period
Makes more sense to think of adolescent development as a series of transitions from immaturity into maturity

5. Adolescence: A broad range
Because this period spans over a decade, covering so much growth and change, Adolescence divided into 3 phases:
Early adolescence: 10-13
Middle adolescence: 14-17
Late adolescence: 18-22
Correspond to anything?

6. Part I: The Fundamental Changes of Adolescence
Chapter 1: Biological Transitions
Chapter 2: Cognitive Transitions
Chapter 3: Social Transitions

7. Chapter One: Biological Transitions

8. Somatic Development: Changes in Stature/Dimensions of the Body
Adolescent growth spurt
Simultaneous release of growth hormones, thyroid hormones, and androgens
Peak Height Velocity
Time that adolescent is growing most quickly
Average female growth spurt is 2 years before the average male growth spurt

9. Somatic Development: Changes in Stature/Dimensions of the Body
Skeletal changes
Bones become harder, denser, more brittle
Conclusion of puberty
Closing of ends of long bones
Growth in height is terminated
Relative proportions of body fat/muscle change for boys and for girls
Changes in the circulatory & respiratory systems

10. What Are The 5 Major Physical Changes of Puberty?
Adolescent growth spurt
Development of primary sex characteristics (gonads)
Development of secondary sex characteristics (breasts, pubic hair)
Changes in body composition
Changes in circulation and respiration

11. Somatic Development: Sexual Maturation
Development of secondary sex characteristics (Tanner Stages)
Five Stages
Changes include
growth of pubic hair
changes in appearance of sex organs
breast development
Boys are generally fertile before they have an “adultlike” appearance.
The opposite is true for girls.
Page 31

12. Sexual Maturation: Boys
Spermarche typically occurs 1 year after accelerated penis growth
Boys capable of fathering a child before they look like adults; opposite true for girls

13. Sexual Maturation: Girls
Sequence less regular than in boys
Menarche typically occurs after other secondary sex characteristics; regular ovulation follows 2 years later
Thus, girls appear physically mature before they are actually capable of reproduction

14. Variations in the Timing and Tempo of Puberty
Onset can begin as early as 7 in girls and 9 ½ in boys; as late as 13 in girls and 13 ½ in boys
Interval b/w first sign and complete physical maturation can be as short as 1.5 yrs or as long as 6 yrs

15. Ethnic Differences
Within the U.S., there are Ethnic differences in timing and rate of pubertal maturation
AA females mature significantly earlier than MA girls, who in turn, mature earlier than White girls
Why the difference?
Exposure to toxins in environment
General SES
Family dynamics

16. Puberty is Affected by Context
Timing of physical changes in adolescence varies by
Regions of the world
Socioeconomic class
Ethnic group
Historical era
Example: Menarche (first menstruation)
U.S. average 12 to 13 years
Lumi (New Guinea) average > 18 years

17. Individual Differences in Pubertal Maturation
an interaction between genes and environment
Differences in timing/rate among individuals in the same general environment result chiefly from genetic factors
Two key environmental influences: nutrition and health
Exposure to pheromes
Pheromes – a class of chemicals secreted by animals that stimulate certain behaviors in other members of the species. The presence of a stepfather may expose the adolescent girl to pheromes that stimulate pubertal maturation. In general, when mammals live close to biological relatives that slows the pubertal process. Being exposed to unrelated members of the opposed sex may accelerate puberty. Page 36.

18. Individual Differences in Pubertal Maturation: What can effect the Timing of Pubertal Onset?
EARLY
Higher affluence; economic advantages
But what about Culture/Ethnicity?
Better nourishment throughout prenatal, infant, & childhood yrs
Better health conditions
Growing up in less cohesive families w/ more conflict
Growing up in households w/ no natural father; instead having stepfather present (pheromones)
Small amts of stress = speed up; great deals = slow down
LATE
Poorer economic conditions
History of protein and/or caloric deficiencies
Chronic illness in childhood
EXCESSIVE EXERCISE!
Ballet dancers, Gymnasts
Eating disorders
Pheromes – a class of chemicals secreted by animals that stimulate certain behaviors in other members of the species. The presence of a stepfather may expose the adolescent girl to pheromes that stimulate pubertal maturation. In general, when mammals live close to biological relatives that slows the pubertal process. Being exposed to unrelated members of the opposed sex may accelerate puberty. Page 36.

19. Group Differences in Pubertal Maturation
When comparing age of menarchy in different regions of the world, average ages generally lower in countries less likely to experience poverty & malnourishment
US median age range: 12.5 to 13.5 vs. Africa 14 to 17
Three group comparisons of average age of menarche
Across countries
Western Europe and the U.S.: the median age ranges from 12.5 years to 13.5 years.
Africa: the median age ranges from 14 years to 17 years.
Among SES groups within a country
Girls from affluent homes reach menarche before girls from economically-disadvantaged homes
Within same populations but different eras
Norway, 150 years ago: average age at menarche may have been at about 17 years.
Norway, today: average age is 12 or 13 years.

20. Psychological/Social: The Impact of Specific Pubertal Events
Most adolescents react positively to pubertal changes
especially secondary sex characteristics
Reactions to menarche are varied
but less negative than in the past
Less known about boys’ reactions to first ejaculations …why?
Page 46 notes cultural differences in boys’ responses to first ejaculation.
For example, in Nigeria, boys told their friends about the experience soon after it occurred.
In the United States, boys do not usually discuss this event with parents or with friends.

21. Psychological/Social: Early or Late Maturation
Perception of being an early or late maturer is more important in affecting one’s feelings than the reality
Early maturation does bring social advantages
But early maturation is associated with
More drug and alcohol use
Precocious sexual activity
Context is important to consider

22. Eating Disorders in Adolescence

23. Eating Disorders Basal Metabolism Rate Obesity Disordered eating
The minimal amount of energy one uses when resting
Obesity
The most common eating disorder among adolescents
Disordered eating
Patterns of eating attitudes and behaviors that are unhealthy.

24. Eating Disorders
Deviation from the “ideal” physique can lead to loss of self-esteem and other problems in the adolescent’s self- image
Studies of magazines, 1970 to 1990
Ideal body shape became slimmer
Ideal body shape became less curvaceous

25. Things to think about…
Eating disorders are becoming more prevalent in the U.S., especially among young people
Characterized by physically and/or psychologically harmful eating patterns
13.4% of girls and 7.1% of boys engaged in disordered eating patterns
Factors associated w/ disordered eating: low self-esteem, depression, substance use, suicidal ideations
The increasing emphasis on thinness (especially for women) is occurring as the population of the U.S. is becoming heavier
30-67% of normal-weight adolescent and college girls believe they are overweight
80% of ALL women are dissatisfied with their bodies

26. Eating Disorders: Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia
Adolescents with these eating disorders have an extremely disturbed body image.
Bulimia
Eating binges; force themselves to vomit
3% of adolescents are genuine bulimics
Anorexia
Starve themselves to keep weight down
Fewer than ½ of 1% of adolescents
There is a clip on the McGraw-Hill Visual Assets Database that would relate well to this section of the textbook.
Eating Disorders
GRACIELA ANDRESON, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, STUDENT HEALTH CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, U-C. A clinical psychologist describes the types of eating disorders that occur among young women. She states that food is not the main psychological concern for these girls. Instead, the real issue is the need to feel in control.

27. Anorexia Nervosa
INTENSTE fear of becoming obese which does not subside even with extreme weight loss
Refusal to maintain body weight above minimum normal weight for one’s age and height (ie, she is more than 15% below expected body weight)
Body image distortion – looks in mirror and sees FAT when in reality…
Can cause liver, kidney, and heart failure
Deadliest of all psychiatric illnesses

28. Anorexia Nervosa
Onset usually occurs after puberty or late adolescence
In order to meet criteria, females must have absence of at least 3 consecutive menstrual cycles
Primarily occurs in adolescent girls/women and rare in males
Prevalence - .5 to 1% of female population
Increase in early onset anorexia in girls b/w ages of 8 and 13!
Obsessed with weighing themselves and the way others may “see” them
Prevalent among dancers, gymnasts, models

29. How can they not realize that they are starving themselves TO DEATH?
Anorexia Nervosa
How can they not realize that they are starving themselves TO DEATH?

30. Bulimia Nervosa
Recurrent episodes of binge eating – eat abnormally large amounts of food in a small space of time
Loses control when bingeing
Uses vomiting, exercise, laxatives, or dieting to control weight
Two or more eating binges a week, occurring for 3 or more months
Overconcern with body weight and shape
Onset usually during late adolescence or early adulthood
Prevalence rate: 1-3% of population

31. Bulimia Nervosa Two sub-types:
Purging type: individual regularly vomits or uses laxatives, diuretics, or enemas
Nonpurging type: excessive exercise or fasting used in an attempt to compensate for binges

32. Important to know… Differences b/w Anorexia & Bulimia
People w/ Bulimia realize their eating patterns (binging/purging) are not normal – frustrated and ashamed by that knowledge
Bulimia much more prevalent than anorexia
A person’s weight has little to do with Bulimia whereas anorexic criteria is <15% normal body weight

33. Videos http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/thin/program.html