ADOLESCENCE (12-18 years old)

ADOLESCENCE

(12-18 years old)

- stage of maturation between childhood and adulthood

- usually starts at about age 14 in males (ends by age 18 or 19) and age 12 in females (ends within 3 years)

GENERAL PARAMETERS:

HEIGHT:

• Achieve about 20-25% of adult size in adolescence
• Girls: grow 2-8 inches (5-20cm).
• Boys: grow 4-12 inches. (10-30cm)

WEIGHT:

• Gain about 30-50% of adult weight during adolescence
• Average wt: girls gain between 15-55 lbs (6.8-25kg)
• Average wt: boys gain 15-65 lbs (6.8-29.5 kg)

GENDER DIFFERENCES:

Girls: (9-13 y/o)

• Increase in ht and wt
• Thelarche
• Adrenarche
• Increase pelvic girth
• Growth spurt
• Menarche occurs

Boys:

• Increase ht and wt
• Testicle and penis size increases
• Laryngeal development
• Growth spurt
• Spermatogenesis

DEVELOPMENTAL CHANGES RESULTING FROM HORMONAL INFLUENCES:

• Body mass increase to adult size
• Sebaceous glands are activated
• Eccrine sweat glands become fully functional
• Apocrine sweat glands undergo development and there is hair growth in the axilla, breast areola, genital and anal regions
• Body hair is distributed in a characteristic adult pattern texture changes

SLEEP PATTERN

• Tendency to sleep late at night
• Attempt to catch on missed sleep
• Fatigue

DENTAL HEALTH

• Regular and preventive check ups
• Wear orthodontic appliances
• Pay attention to brushing and care of teeth

NUTRITION

• Provide optimum nutritional support for demands of rapid growth and high energy expenditure
• Support development of good eating habits thru variety of foods, regular pattern, good quality snacks

Possible nutritional problems:

• Low intake of calcium, vitamin A and C, iron in girls
• Anemia
• Obesity or underwt

ELIMINATION

• Elimination pattern is similar to those of the adult patterns
• Constipation is common physiologic d/o due to improper nutrition
• Eating problems are common- anorexia nervosa
• The average urinary output during adolescents is 700-1400 ml per day

DEVELOPMENTAL THEORIES:

1. ERICKSON- IDENTITY VS. ROLE CONFUSION
1. PEERS- significant person; one of the strongest motivating forces of behavior
2. Task of teenagers: to develop from a dependent to an independent person
3. Identity is achieve or form if adolescents knew “who they are” and what will they become in the future
4. Teenagers define identity apart from parental authority

2. FREUD- GENITAL STAGE
1. Major goal: learning to for a close, intimate relationship with the opposite sex
2. Adolescents develop crushes and worship many idols
3. Center of pleasure: genitals – “love object”
4. Adolescents engage in sexual activity for pleasure, to satisfy drives, and in response to peer pressure

3. PIAGET- FORMAL OPERATIONAL THOUGHT
1. Characterized by the ability to develop abstract thinking/ reasoning
2. Can comprehend satire and double meanings
3. Can say one thing and mean another
4. Can appreciate scientific thinking and problem solving
5. Much longer span of attention

4. KOHLBERG- POST CONVENTIONAL
1. Marked by the development of an individual conscience and a define set of moral values
2. Acknowledge a conflict between 2 socially accepted standards and try to decide between them
3. Discipline shd be firm and reasonable
4. Provide a balance privilege in accordance to maturity

COMMON ACCIDENTS:

1. MOTOR VEHICULAR ACCIDENTS
1. Inexperience
2. Poor judgment
3. Reckless driving
4. Driving under the influence of alcohol
5. Failure of using seat belt
6. Unsafe practices of driving
7. Car racing
2. BICYCLE ACCIDENTS
3. SKATEBOARDS/ ROLLER BLADES
4. BOATS, TRAINS OR SNOW MOBILES
5. IMPROPER USE OF FIREARM RESULTING TO ACCIDENTAL INJURY
6. Swimming and driving accidents 

PREVENTIONS:

• Proper use and storage of firearm
• Swimming and driving safely
• Use of sunscreen during sun exposure
• Proper caution around gasoline and electricity
• Ways on how to avoid sports injury
• Safe sex
• Problem solving techniques to decrease violence