Puperty, Health, and Biological Foundations Flashcards
Tanner scale
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
Puberty - definition
pubescere (latin) -> “grow hairy”
-> body undergoing biological revolution; changing anatomy, physiology, physical appearance
(changes in lifestyle, rapid growth, …)
Primary and Secondary physical changes/sex characteristics
primary = all changes for reproduction
secondary = everything not involved in reproduction
-> males gain muscles, females gain fat
-> changes in the circulatory & respiratory system
The endocrine system
- hypothalamus increases GnRH production when leptin levels reach certain threshold
- GnRH signals pituitary gland to release FSH and LH (testes - males, ovaries - females)
- FSH & LH stimulate gonads; ova and sperm production
- estrogen and androgens increase; responsible for most of the visible biological changes (during puberty)
Endocrine System as Feedback Loop
monitors/adjusts levels of sex hormones, set point as optimal level, one’s that is reached production goes down
testosterone vs estradiol
- testosterone; high increase for boys
- estradiol; high increase for girls
-> boys and girls have both but amount varies
Cycle of ovulation and menstruationen
- 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]
physical growth (puberty)
- girls grow earlier than boys
-> final hight reached; girls = 13, boys = 15
asynchronicity (uneven growth)
extremes first
-> clumsy adolescents
physical functions changing during puberty
- heart size double -> heart rate falls
- lung volume increases -> vital capacity
- males overtake females in physical strength
obesity
- exceeding BMI
-> lifestyle changes, diet changes, less sleep, …
sexual
maturation - males
- increased penis and testicle size
- spermarche
- pubic hair
- vocal changes
- armpit hair
- facial hair
sexual
maturation - females
- breasts enlarge
- growth of sex organs
- pubic hair
- armpit hair
- menarche
secular trend
downward trend of the age of menarche in Western countries
early bloomers - males
- favorised body image -> athletic advantage
- more popular, self-confident, leadership, thinking about themselves more positive
- more likely to get into trouble
late bloomers - males
- often bullied, social rejection, social comparison - feel inadequate
- depression, anxiety, substance use, conflicts with parents
- stronger sense of identity in adulthood
early bloomers - females
- 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
late bloomers - females
- popular, social, lively, leaders
- more positive body image and identity later in life
Bulimia Nervosa
- 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
Anorexia Nervosa
- 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
Binge-Eating Disorder
- onset in adolescence
- binge eating not followed by purging -> greater occurrence for males
- concerns about shape/weight
Males and eating disorders
- desire to acquire body mass (shown on society as ideal)
- males also have these other eating disorders -> thinness
LGBTQ+ and eating disorders
- face more complex/additional stressors -> concerns mental health -> making individuals more vulnerable
-> more eating disorders (especially for gay males)
Cause of eating disorders
- 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
Globalization and rituals
causes decline in the frequency of these rituals
Passive genotype -> environment effect
- 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
evocative genotype -> environment effects
- persons inherited characteristics evoking responses form others in environment (pushing them into certain fields/promoting their talents)
- happens increasingly in adolescence
active genotype -> environment effects
- person chooses environment that corresponds to their genotype -> niche picking
nature and nature in adolescence
both define on who we become
-> biology and environment
