6.1 Flashcards
Adolescence
Developmental stage between childhood and adulthood
There are coming of age ceremonies across many cultures, what is the underlying purpose?
To celebrate the physical changes that come with adolescence
When do growth spurts start?
Girls, 10
Boys, 12
At what point are girls taller than boys and what point are boys taller than girls?
From 11-13 girls are taller, but by 13, boys are taller
Puberty
Period during which sexual organs mature
When does puberty start?
When brain signals other glands to begin producing adult levels of sex hormones
Androgens
Male sex hormone
Estrogens
Female sex hormones
T/F gorls and boys produce both estrogens and androgens
True
But the amount differs between sexes
Leptin
A hormone that plays a role in the onset of puberty
Menarche
The onset of menstruation
T/F there are environmental and cultural factors that affect when puberty begins in girls
True
What are the environmental and cultural differences in menarche
Better nourished and healthy girls start menstruation sooner
In wealthy countries, menstruation starts sooner, and richer girls in those countries start puberty sooner than less affluent girls in those countries
Stress can cause early onset
T/F, over the past century, girls have been entering puberty at a later age
False
Earlier age
What could be causing the earlier onset of puberty in girls worldwide?
Reduced disease and improved nutrition
Bpa in plastic mimic estrogen when ingested
Secular trend
Pattern of change occurring over several generations
Primary sex characteristics
Characteristics associated with the development of the organs and structures of the body that directly relate to reproduction
Secondary sex characteristics
Visible signs of sexual maturity that do not directly involve the sex organs
Primary sex characteristics changes in girls
Changes in vagina and uterus
Secondarys ex characteristic changes in girls
Breast develiopment age 10
Pubic hair development age 11
Underarm hair development age 12
Spermarche
A boys first ejaculation
Usually at 13
Primary sex characteristic changes in boys
Growth of penis and scrotum age 12
Prostate gland and seminal vesicles develop
Spermarche
Secondary sex characteristic changes in boys
Pubic hair development age 12
Underarm and facial hair development age 12
Vocal cords become longer
Larynx become larger
What are higher hormone levels in boys associated with
Anger and annoyance
What are higher hormone levels in girls associated with
Anger and depression
What effect does menarche have on self-image of girls today vs. in the past
It used to scare them due to lack of education, focusing on bad stuff like cramps
Now they see themselves as young adults because of it
Girls often tell their mothers when they’ve had menarche, but boys rarely mention their spermarche to anyone, why might this be?
Mothers may provide the sanitary napkins girls need, but for boys spermarche may be seen as a sign of thieir budding sexuallity, an area they still feel uncertain about and reluctant to discuss with others
How do body changes associated with puberty affect female self image
Girls may be ashamed of their new bodies
Puberty increases fat, which goes against western ideals of female beauty
How does early maturation affect boys positively
Tend to be more successful athletes
Tend to be more popular
Tend to be more self-confident
More responsible and cooperative in adulthood
How does early maturation affect boys negatively?
More apt to have school difficulties
More likely to be involved in delinquency and substance abuse
More likely to seek company of older boys and become involved in age-inappropriate activities
More conforming
More lacking in humour
Overall, is early maturation positive or negative for boys?
Positive
How does early maturation affect girls positively
They are more sought after as dates, and this popularity may increase their self esteem
How does early maturation affect girls negatively?
The changes in their bodies might make them feel uncomfortable and different from their peers
Less mature classmates may ridicule them
They may not be emotionally ready for one-on-one dating, it’ll make them feel more different from their peers
How do cultural norms play a role in how girls experience early maturation?
In societies that shame girls for open sexuality, outcomes can be negative
In societies that have open view of sex, early maturing girls have more self esteem
How does late maturation affect boys negatively
Considered less attractive
Disadvantage In sports
Might have hard time dating girls if they’re short
How does late maturation affect boys positively
Coping with late maturation may help them
More assertive and insightful
More creatively playful
How does late maturation affect girls negatively
Overlooked in dating/mixed sex activities
Low social status
How does late maturation affect girls positively
Fewer emotional issues
Tend to have more ideal (slender, leggy) body type
What nutrients are most important for adolescents to receive during the growth spurt?
Calcium for bones
Iron for blood
What is the most common nutritional concern in adolescence
Obesity
T/F the proportion of obese females decrease over the course of adolescence
False
Increase
What are the major culprits of adolescent obesity
Lack of exercise
Lack of healthy eating choices
What may be the reason female adolescents are not getting enough exercise?
Lack of organized sports/recreational facilities for girls.
Cultural norms say sports are a guy thing
Anorexia nervosa
Severe eating disorder, individual refuses to eat
What group of people are primarily affected by anorexia nervosa
12-40 year old women
Affluent, white girls
What percentage of anorexia nervosa victims starve to death
15-20%
T/F anorexics avoid talking about food and don’t like handling it
False
They often collect cookbooks, talk about food, cook for others
Bulimia
Binge eating followed by purging and guilt
Health consequences of bulimia
Causes chemical imbalance that can trigger heart failure
Binge eating disorder
Binging without purging
T/F bulimia has now been recognized as a psychiatric disorder
False
Binge eating disorder has
Are bulimics very skinny or very fat? Does bulimia help them lose weight?
They tend to be overweight/obese, and remain the same weight
What factors cause eating disorders to occur
Dieting culture Early maturation Genetics Hormonal imbalances Perfectionist parents Cultural views of ideal female body
What happens to neuron development in adolescents
Increase grey matter
Myelination increase
Pruning by 1-2% every year
What happens to prefrontal cortex of adolescents
Develops a lot
Increase efficiency with communicating with rest of brain
Provides impulse control (but it’s not too well developed)
When do humans become better at restraining impulses?
When we lose more grey matter and gain more white matter
This happens throughout adolescence
How is alcohol consumption affected by the development of the adolescent brain
Change in dopamine sensitivity and production can lead to reduced alcohol sensitivity, which can lead to increase in alcohol consumption
How does sleep deprivation affect adolescents
Lower marks
More depressed
Mood instability
Increase risk for car accident
Why is sleep deprivation so common for adolescents
Their body wants them to go to sleep and wake later
But school makes them wake up early
T/F illegal drug use has increased in recent years
False
Decreased
Who do adolescents do drugs?
Seek pleasure Escape stress Thrill of crime Drug-using celebrities Peer pressure
Addictive drugs
Produce biological/psychological dependence in users
Powerful cravings for them
T/F with a biological addiction. The body cannot function without the presence of the drug, even if it doesn’t cause a high anymore
True
T/F frequent heavy drinking is more common in adults 25+ than in youth 15-24
False
Three times higher in youth 15-24
Binge drinking
Having five or more drinks in one sitting
T/F binge drinking is a problem on campuses across canada
True
What regional variances exist in binge drinking
More in atlantic provinces and ontario
Less in quebec and BC
Why do young people drink?
Celebrate Be sociable To get drunk Prove prowess Release stress and inhibitions False consensus effect
False consensus effect
Doing something because you think everyone else is doing it
Alcoholics
People who’ve learned to depend on alcohol
Can’t control their drinking
Develop increased tolerance, need to drink more
Do alcoholics drink throughout day or go on binges?
Some drink throughout the day
Some go on binges
Why do adolescents become alcoholics?
Genetic predisposition
People with alcoholic parents may be more stressed out and turn to alcohol to deal with it
In canada, do girls or boys smoke more?
Boys smoke more than girls
T/F youth who smoke are more likely to drink alcohol and use drugs
True
What is the most common STI
HPV
AIDS
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
Most deadly of all STI’s
Chlamydia
Bacterial infection
Causes burning urination and discharge
Can lead to pelvic inflammation
Can lead to sterility
What STI’s are caused by bacterial infections are there? Can they be treated?
Chlamydia
Gonorrea
Syphilis
Can be treated with antibiotics
Genital herpes
Viral infection
Incurable
Contagious
Causes painful sores
Trichomoniasis
Caused by parasite
Painful discharge
What makes teenagers avoid safe sex techniques?
They believe the chances of getting an STI is low
They may view their partner as “safe” if they know and trust them
