Biological Development in Adolescence Flashcards
The adolescence age.
11/12 to early 20s.
Puberty is marked by sudden enlargement of “?” and development of “?” characteristics.
reproductive organs/sexual genitalia
secondary sex characteristics
Puberty begins girls/boys
9 and 12 for girls
11 and 14 for boys
Full height is reached at age of
16 for girls
18 to 20 for boys
Testosterone directly affects growth of ?
penis
facial hair
brain
cartilage in the shoulder
Estrogen and Progesterone affect
uterus and vagina
The tendency toward increasing size and earlier achievement of sexual maturity is
Secular trend
”?” characteristics are those directly related to the sex organs and reproduction.
Primary sex characteristics
”?” are traits that distinguish the genders from each other but play no direct role in reproduction.
Secondary sex characteristics
ex. menstruation, hair, breasts, skin changes
The US average age of Menarche (first period)
12.5 years
4 factors that cause more depression in girls than boys during adolescence
Estrogen cycle (linked to mood change)
Critical of their bodies
Blame themselves than others
More sensitive to problems of family/friends
Early maturation in boys - positive findings
More popular, school leaders Higher self esteem sports ability relaxed good-natured
Early maturation in boys - negative findings
Greater chance of aggression and delinquency
Use of drugs and alcohol
Late maturation in boys - negative findings
Lower self esteem
More adjustment problems.
Early maturation in girls - negative findings
More likely to smoke, drink, engage in sexual activity
Have eating disorders and other mental illnesses
Alcohol usage: ?% of high school seniors, ?% of 10th graders, and more than ?% of 8th graders have drunk alcohol.
45% seniors
40% 10th graders
17% 8th graders
?% of high school graduates smoke
?%% drink alcohol heavily
?% of young adults use other substances, cocaine, ecstasy, inhalants or heroin.
17% of high school graduates smoke
28% drink alcohol heavily
20% of young adults use other substances, cocaine, ecstasy, inhalants or heroin.
4 categories of risks for alcohol/substance abuse
Environmental factors
Peer pressure
Parental factors
Personal characters (ex. poor coping skills)
Environmental factors (alcohol risks) 5 examples
Poverty Inadequate education High unemployment Lack of positive role models Absence of opportunity
Parental factors (alcohol risks)
Lack of involvement Failure to monitor Appear not to care Don’t provide support or direction Parents’ use of substance Severe, inconsistent discipline
Personal characteristics (alcohol risks)
Poor coping abilities Relationship problems Achievement at school issues Desire for excitement Desire for self-gratification
Tobacco use risk factors
Lack of parental attention
Peer pressure
Disinterest in school
Sexual activity:
?% of male/female who have had sexual intercourse by age 15 and age 19.
25% boys/26 % girls at age 15.
69% boys / 77% girls at age 19.
Race and sex: which minority groups more likely to have sex earlier? (due to poverty)
-African Americans (15.6) and Hispanics have sex at earlier ages than Whites and Asian youth.
