This document discusses physical, emotional, and psychological development during adolescence. It describes the physical changes of puberty including growth of secondary sex characteristics. It also examines emotional variability and challenges such as eating disorders and depression that adolescents may face. Factors that can influence depression are discussed, such as parental loss or rejection, stressors, and differences in rates between males and females during this developmental period.

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Adolescence
Adolescent Behavior and
Development
Presenter;Presenter;
Prince Noah NantajjaPrince Noah Nantajja
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Adolescence Physical Maturation
Secondary sex characteristics are the physical
characteristics other than genital, that indicate
sexual maturity, such as body hair, breasts, and
deepened voice
• Adaptation at puberty requires an integration of
biological, psychological, and social changes
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Adolescence
• Physical Changes in Girls & Boys
Concerns about Obesity – the greatest concern
adolescent girls express about their bodies is the
perception they are too fat, which may result in peer
rejection
Reactions to Breast Development and Menarche
• The development of breast buds is a welcome sign
for most girls but menarche is associated with a mix
of positive and negative feelings
• Menarche ;Menarche ;
• The beginning of regular menstrual periodsThe beginning of regular menstrual periods
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Adolescence
Although some girls are prepared by their parents or
other relatives for menstruation, the topic is
often handled as a matter of hygiene rather than
as a sexual transition, and therefore many girls do
not understand the relationship between
menstruation and reproduction
Boys generally welcome the changes, involving increased
height and muscle mass, that bring them one step
closer to adult maturity.
Boys are generally not well prepared by their parents
with information on the maturation of their
reproductive organs so lots may happen.
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Adolescence
• The Secular Trend & Individual Differences in
Maturation Rate
– A secular growth trend is a decrease over time in the
average age at which physical maturation takes place
– Changes in hygiene, nutrition, and health care have
contributed to an earlier growth burst over the past
century
– The age at commencement of puberty and the rate of
change in physical maturation vary
– Early and late maturing have psychological and social
consequences for both boys and girl
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Adolescence
– Images of adolescence often refer to new
levels of emotional variability, moodiness, and
emotional outbursts
– Given the likelihood of a more differentiated
range of emotions during adolescence, a major
task during this time is to gain a tolerance of
one’s emotionality
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Emotional DevelopmentEmotional Development

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Adolescence
• Eating DisordersEating Disorders
– Eating disorders are an example of
internalizing problems, turning one’s
frustration, anger, or fear inward on the self
– It is characterized by a fear of gaining weight,
refusal to maintain a minimally normal body
weight, and perceptions of one’s body as
overweight in general or in specific area
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Adolescence
• Depression
– Depression is a state of feeling sad, often
accompanied by feelings of low personal worth
and withdrawal from relationships with others
– Depressed mood refers to feelings of sadness, a
loss of hope, a sense of being overwhelmed by the
demands of the world, and general unhappiness
– Depressive syndrome refers to a constellation of
behaviors and emotions that occur together. The
syndrome usually includes complaints about
feeling depressed, anxious, fearful, worried, guilty,
and worthless
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Adolescence
• Factors Associated with DepressionFactors Associated with Depression
– Adolescents face a number of challenges that make
them vulnerable to depression
• Parental loss or rejection has been found to
increase an adolescent’s vulnerability to depression
• expose to more negative events and hassles. social
alienation, excessive demands, romantic concerns,
decisions about one’s personal future, loneliness
and unpopularity, various annoyances and
concerns, social mistreatment, and academic
challenges
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Adolescence
• Adolescents are relatively inexperienced in
coping with these kind of stressors
– Most studies find no differences in depression
between prepubescent boys and girls;
however, during the period from about age 11
to 15, gender differences are systematically
noted and continue to be evident into
adulthood, with depression more common in
females than in males
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Adolescence
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