Puperty, Health, and Biological Foundations

Question 1

Tanner scale

Answer 1

images to compare body to (shows stages of puberty) -> some kind of linear regression; can transmit certain expectations, does not necessarily capture real life, adolescents might not answer accurately/falsify their answer

Question 2

Puberty - definition

Answer 2

pubescere (latin) -> “grow hairy”
-> body undergoing biological revolution; changing anatomy, physiology, physical appearance
(changes in lifestyle, rapid growth, …)

Question 3

Primary and Secondary physical changes/sex characteristics

Answer 3

primary = all changes for reproduction
secondary = everything not involved in reproduction
-> males gain muscles, females gain fat
-> changes in the circulatory & respiratory system

Question 4

The endocrine system

Answer 4

1. hypothalamus increases GnRH production when leptin levels reach certain threshold
2. GnRH signals pituitary gland to release FSH and LH (testes - males, ovaries - females)
3. FSH & LH stimulate gonads; ova and sperm production
4. estrogen and androgens increase; responsible for most of the visible biological changes (during puberty)

Question 5

Endocrine System as Feedback Loop

Answer 5

monitors/adjusts levels of sex hormones, set point as optimal level, one’s that is reached production goes down

Question 6

testosterone vs estradiol

Answer 6

• testosterone; high increase for boys
• estradiol; high increase for girls
  -> boys and girls have both but amount varies

Question 7

Cycle of ovulation and menstruationen

Answer 7

• boys cycle in a course of one day
• females have a daily and monthly cycle; egg grows, if not used it gets pulled out of body - estradiol high before ovulation, progesterone high after ovulation [hormone birth control elevates progesterone, mimicking a pregnancy]

Question 8

physical growth (puberty)

Answer 8

• girls grow earlier than boys
  -> final hight reached; girls = 13, boys = 15

Question 9

asynchronicity (uneven growth)

Answer 9

extremes first
-> clumsy adolescents

Question 10

physical functions changing during puberty

Answer 10

• heart size double -> heart rate falls
• lung volume increases -> vital capacity
• males overtake females in physical strength

Question 11

obesity

Answer 11

• exceeding BMI
  -> lifestyle changes, diet changes, less sleep, …

Question 12

sexual
maturation - males

Answer 12

• increased penis and testicle size
• spermarche
• pubic hair
• vocal changes
• armpit hair
• facial hair

Question 13

sexual
maturation - females

Answer 13

• breasts enlarge
• growth of sex organs
• pubic hair
• armpit hair
• menarche

Question 14

secular trend

Answer 14

downward trend of the age of menarche in Western countries

Question 15

early bloomers - males

Answer 15

• favorised body image -> athletic advantage
• more popular, self-confident, leadership, thinking about themselves more positive
• more likely to get into trouble

Question 16

late bloomers - males

Answer 16

• often bullied, social rejection, social comparison - feel inadequate
• depression, anxiety, substance use, conflicts with parents
• stronger sense of identity in adulthood

Question 17

early bloomers - females

Answer 17

• bad psychological effects (depression, negative body image, …)
• cultural values (tall and thin) -> females tend to go away from ideal body (increase in fat)
• conflict with parents
• attention of older peers -> might lead to unfold behavior

Question 18

late bloomers - females

Answer 18

• popular, social, lively, leaders
• more positive body image and identity later in life

Question 19

Bulimia Nervosa

Answer 19

• onset in adolescence
• binge eating and compensatory behavior -> feeling out of control -> purging to prevent weight gain
• hidden/invisible disorder
• people are ashamed of their behavior
• can become chronic; organs are damaged/organ failure

Question 20

Anorexia Nervosa

Answer 20

• onset is mid/late adolescence
• restrictive eating -> weight loss -> emaciation (= Abmagerung)
  -> fear of gaining weight and loss of control (feeling proud about control)
  -> real disturbance in body perception

Question 21

Binge-Eating Disorder

Answer 21

• onset in adolescence
• binge eating not followed by purging -> greater occurrence for males
• concerns about shape/weight

Question 22

Males and eating disorders

Answer 22

• desire to acquire body mass (shown on society as ideal)
• males also have these other eating disorders -> thinness

Question 23

LGBTQ+ and eating disorders

Answer 23

• face more complex/additional stressors -> concerns mental health -> making individuals more vulnerable
  -> more eating disorders (especially for gay males)

Question 24

Cause of eating disorders

Answer 24

• social dimension: dietary restrain, social media, did preoccupation
• family influences
• psychological dimension: distortion in body perception, lack of personal control, lack of confidence, perfectionism, good anxiety

Question 25

Globalization and rituals

Answer 25

causes decline in the frequency of these rituals

Question 26

Passive genotype -> environment effect

Answer 26

• biological parents creating home environment that is a function of parents genetic makeup
  -> deines which skills the child develops (their extent), these predispositions become more variable during adolescence

Question 27

evocative genotype -> environment effects

Answer 27

• persons inherited characteristics evoking responses form others in environment (pushing them into certain fields/promoting their talents)
• happens increasingly in adolescence

Question 28

active genotype -> environment effects

Answer 28

• person chooses environment that corresponds to their genotype -> niche picking

Question 29

nature and nature in adolescence

Answer 29

both define on who we become
-> biology and environment