Module 32: Challenges during Adolescence

Question 1

Secular Trend

Answer 1

children may be starting puberty earlier but spending more time to reach full sexual maturity

Question 2

What may be a reason for the secular trend?

Answer 2

+ may be due to higher standard of living, undernutrition, health, exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals
+ may also because they were firstborn, being born to a single mother and harsh maternal parenting practices
+ however, it was concluded that children who are exposed to high stress when young tend to reach pubertal milestone earlier than those who are not

Question 3

What has early maturation been linked to?

Answer 3

+ early maturation has been liked to adult health issues such as cancers, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease
+ early puberty can be a predictor of adult obesity and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) – disorder causing acne, irregular periods, excess hair growth, and the growth of cysts on ovaries

Question 4

When do the effects of early or late maturation become negative?

Answer 4

effects of early or late maturation are most likely to be negative when adolescents are much more or less developed than peers

Question 5

What can a sedentary lifestyle in adolescence lead to?

Answer 5

A sedentary lifestyle may result in increased risk of poor mental health, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and an increased likelihood of heart disease and cancer in adulthood

Question 6

Sleep Patterns in Adolescence

Answer 6

Children generally go to sleep later and sleep less on school days the older they get

Question 7

Sleep Deprivation in Adolescence

Answer 7

Sleep deprivation can sap motivation and cause irritability, and concentration and school performance can suffer

Question 8

Secretion of Melatonin after Puberty

Answer 8

After puberty, the secretion of melatonin takes place later at night, making it difficult for adolescent to go to bed early

Question 9

Overweight Teenagers

Answer 9

Overweight teenagers tend to be in poorer health than their peers and are more likely have difficulty attending school or engaging in strenuous activity

Question 10

Body Image

Answer 10

one’s perception, thoughts, and feelings
about one’s body

Question 11

When do girls express the highest and lowest body satisfaction?

Answer 11

Girls tend to express the highest level of body satisfaction when underweight, some dissatisfaction when average weight, and the most dissatisfaction when overweight

Question 12

Anorexia Nervosa

Answer 12

distorted body image, severely underweight, may be withdrawn or depressed, and afraid of losing control and becoming overweight

Question 13

Bulimia Nervosa

Answer 13

short-lived binge eating and then purging by self-induced vomiting, strict dieting, excessive exercise, etc.

Question 14

Binge-eating disorder

Answer 14

binging without purging of food

Question 15

What kind of drugs are adolescents most likely to abuse?

Answer 15

A recent trend is the abuse of nonprescription cough and cold meds (dextromethorphan)

Question 16

Binge Drinking

Answer 16

consuming five or more drinks on one occasion

Question 17

What is happening to the brain when teenagers begin to be sensitive to environmental influences?

Answer 17

When the brain is undergoing significant structural and functional change, might be a period of the life span during which teens should be particularly sensitive to environmental influences

Question 18

What is true about drinking alcohol in adolescence?

Answer 18

Alcohol interacts with inhibitory and excitatory receptor systems that are developing in adolescence, making them more sensitive to rewarding effects of alcohol and less sensitive to its negative features

Question 19

What parts of the brain are changing in those individuals who drink alcohol?

Answer 19

Those who drink show changes in key prefrontal areas, including middle frontal gyrus, superior frontal gyrus, left frontal cortex, frontal pole, and left frontal gyrus – all areas involved in executive control

Question 20

What is a big risk factor for depression?

Answer 20

Being female is a risk factor for depression

Question 21

Why is being female a risk factor for depression?

Answer 21

This may be due to biological changes associated with puberty

Question 22

What are the leading causes of death in US teenagers?

Answer 22

1. Motor Vehicle collisions
2. Suicide
3. Homicides

Question 23

What is the background of adolescents who consider or attempt suicide?

Answer 23

Young people who consider or attempt suicide tend to have histories of emotional illness