Puberty Flashcards
Puberty
- Where sexual maturation is evident
- Helps prepare bodies for kids
- It’s the greatest period of sexual differentiation
- Puberty has different onsets for both girls and boys
Puberty Onset for Girls
- Begin growth spurt at about 10.5 years, which is made out of weight and height
- They get taller and fat at different parts of the body due to being able to maintain a pregnancy and be able to nurse, provide milk for babies
Puberty Onset for Boys
Begin growth spurt at about 12.5 years, see muscle development (upper body muscle)
Puberty in Female Sex Traits
- Range of start 8 to 13 years old (typically)
- Early signs: Breast development, pubic hair development, growth spurt
- First period (known as menarche) occurs at age 12.8 and no mature ova are produced
- Menarche varies by ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and by other demographic variables
- Girls tend to remember when there first period occurs and how it occur
Puberty in Male Sex Trait
- Range of start 9.5 to 13.5 age
- Early signs: Growth spurt, pubic hair development, enlargement testes
- Spermarche occurs around average 13. It is the first ejaculation, although semen has few living sperm and it tend to happen during a wet dream
- They don’t really remember or know how/when their first ejaculation occur
Precocious Puberty
Where puberty occurs before the typical years
Psychological Timing on Period
- It is not necessary a period of storm and stress, yet can be if there are multiple transitions at the same time
- It is best if it’s on time with peers (brings conformity)
- There are gender difference with timing on period
Psychological Impact of Early Puberty on Boys and Girls
Girls:
- Below average in popularity
- Withdrawn
- Lack in self - confidence
- Stress
- Poor body image
- High risk of eating disorder
- High risk for sexual debut
Boys:
- Seen as: Relaxed, Independent, Self - confident, Popular, Attractive
- Tend to be leaders (often athletes)
Psychological Impact of Late Puberty on Boys & Girls
Girls:
- Regarded as: Physical attractive, Lively, Sociable, Leaders
- Good body image
Boys:
- Viewed as: Anxious, Overly talkative, Attention seeking
- Poor body image
Causes of Early Puberty
- Changes in diet
- Related to food desserts which leads to obesity, overweight and body fat containing estrogen - Possible environmental toxin
- Things like BPAS often used in the food containers, things in plastic, etc., - Changes in sleep
- Linked to more blue screen exposure - Changes in medical care
- Many people don’t have access to it. There is also changes in the vaccination schedule - Changes in environmental context such as family structure and media
- Divorce can be an impact. Media being more opened in a more sexualized way, especially for kids. Media has progressed that more kids watch sex and consuming sex media can change cortical level and adult body development (based on studies)
Why do we care about Early Puberty?
- Due to psychological consequences. During life-span, it tends to prolonged exposure to estrogen and longterm it can increase reproductive cancer rates
- Also, due to psychological consequences. They tend together judged by appearance. Get teased because others say that the older you look, the mature you are, which is not true (no link)
Actions Parents Can Do
- Breastfeed
- Tend to have a later puberty
- Baby will learn to regulate their own food, since they breastfeed at their own time - Push for earlier puberty education ins school before fifth grade
- Female relatives have to be careful to what is called “fat talk” (slam the girls)
Consequences of Early Puberty Based on Ellis & Garner (2000)
- Landmark studies on early puberty on girls and it’s impact
- A longitudinal study
Consequences Found:
1. Physical: High breast cancer, High rate of reproductive cancer, Obesity, Linked to teenage pregnancy
2. Psychosocial: More body image disturbance, More emotional problems, More “problems” behavior
* No Positive Association*
Past Literature Explores Biological Explanations (Ellis & Garner, 2000)
They reviewed the past literature and noticed …
- Monozygotic twins average difference in months: Reared together 2.8 months and reared apart 9.3 months
- Dizygotic twins average differences in months: Reared together 12 months
The findings tells us about nature and nurture that there environment matters (something is going on environmentally that made an impact on the difference between together and apart)
Influence on Timing (Ellis & Garner, 2000)
Found that the influences on the timing is physical and psychosocial
- Physical: Weight, Nutrition, Exercise
- Psychosocial: Family environment, Child behavioral problems
