Physical Development

Physical Development
In Adolescence
Body Early adolescence is an unpredictable, inconsistent sensitive, awkward, and energetic period resulting from rapid maturation of the body and mind. As children enter into adolescence, they experience many new bodily changescharacterized as puberty. Puberty marks the development of the primary and secondary sex characteristics resulting from increased hormones including estrogen in girls and testosterone in boys. This rapid increase results in drastic physical and emotional changes in both males and females. During puberty, adolescents experience growth spurts, high physical energy, and heightened sexuality. For girls, maturation includes menstruation, height and the development of hips and breasts. During this period, boys become taller with broadened shoulders, a growing reproductive organ, and lower, more adult voices. At about 14 years of age, the average girl stops experiencing growth spurts, whereas boys continue through late adolescence. With regard to physical development, girls generally enter puberty and mature about two years ahead of boys. In addition, timing of hormonal changes varies according to genetic and environmental influences.

Adolescent Sexuality
Adolescent sexuality refers to feelings, behavior, and development that occur in young adults. The onset of puberty marks the beginning of sexual desire. According to a school-based study by the University of Texas School of Public Health 12% of middle school students had already engaged in vaginal sex 7.9% of middle school students engaged in oral sex

The findings are distressing given youth who start having sex before age fourteen are much more likely to have multiple lifetime sexual partners, use alcohol or drugs before sex and have unprotected sex, all of which puts them at greater risk for getting a sexually transmitted disease or becoming pregnant (Science Daily, 2009). The state of North Carolina spends $300 million on teenage pregnancy per year and holds the 9th highest teen pregnancy rate in the country (Planned Parenthood, 2012).

Brain Development
At adolescence, people have and can use their frontal lobes, but they access them more slowly. Prior to being fully developed, the nerves connect the frontal lobes to the rest of the brain, but they are lacking insulation around the nerves to make the connection between the lobes and brain stronger and flow more freely. This part of the brain impacts human judgmentallowing a person to make decisions, predict consequences and develop insight. Thus, adolescents can be poor decision-makers and unaware of the effect of their choices on others.

jhhjghgh
Continued: Physical Development in Adolescence

Motor Development As adolescents undergo many bodily changes, they also experience awkward and uncoordinated movements. Their development is mostly characterized by gross motor coordination, rather than fine motor skills, as their fine motor movements are already developed. The lack of coordination is linked to growth spurts and occurs more noticeably in boys since girls bodies mature faster and thus become more agile. During this time, both boys and girls lack upper body strength. Additionally, too much close eye work often causes headaches and body fatigue for adolescents. Health & Well-Being During this sensitive time of development, adolescents must take care of their bodies to build positive lifelong habits. Since their brains are not fully developed and their ability to make judgment is slowed, this is a period where negative habits can develop, if they are not addressed. Thus, it is critical that adolescents have models for good decisionmaking and positive habits as well as a strong support system. With their changing bodies, adolescents require much rest, nourishment, and physical activity. Due to the hormonal changes, boys and girls at this age need energy from healthy food and drink choices and they experience much restlessness and fatigue. They must partake in habitual physical activity both to aid in the development of their bodies (endurance, strength, and flexibility), but also to offset their high energy levels. Adolescents slow to develop judgment can have a major influence on their health and well being. With the social pressures that accompany this period, drug and alcohol habits are easy to acquire. In addition, as their bodies experience a drastic increase in hormones and sex characteristics, adolescents are also likely to become involved in sexual activity.

Vocabulary
Puberty: All the processes involved that make a person capable of reproduction. Hormones: Chemical substances that effect cells throughout the body. Primary Sex Characteristics: Physical characteristics that are directly involved with reproductive organs. Secondary Sex Characteristics: Physical characteristics that are not needed for reproduction but are still markers for mature males or females. Metacognition: Knowing about how your own cognitive processes work and using that knowledge to reach your goals. Registers: Ways of speaking that fit specific social situations.