Adolescence is the transition between childhood and adulthood. The period of adolescence is started with puberty. The period of development in adolescence is presented with the help of a flood of biological events. This biological event leads to adult body size and sexual maturity.
This is considered the most dangerous stage of development. Because adolescence does not have control over their feelings and emotions. So, he gets emotionally attached to the relationship.
The students of this age are happy with themselves. And when their needs are not met, they become depressed.
Stages of Adolescence
On the basis of average, pubertal development takes about 4 years. The adolescence period occurs between 11 to 18 years. The adolescence period is divided into three phases. The three stages of adolescence. They are early adolescence, middle adolescence, and late adolescence.
Different development in adolescence
1. Hormonal Changes
The hormonal changes lead to children’s full-grown adults. Girls are in adolescence two years earlier than boys. In adolescence, sexual maturation is controlled by sex hormones.
I. Sexual Hormones in Female
Estrogen hormones are released by ovaries. These hormones are responsible for breast development, uterus and vagina, and so on.
II. Sexual hormones in male
In the adolescence period, the male testes gland releases a large amount of androgen testosterone. Androgen, and testosterone lead to muscle growth, body hair, facial hair, and heavy voice.
III. Sexual Maturation
In adolescence age, rapid body growth leads to sexual functioning. This changing process is called primary sexual characteristics.
IV. Pubertal Development in Girls
According to the adolescence period, in females, puberty begins with the budding of the breasts and a growth spurt. First menstruation (menarche) occurs aroundable 12.5 years. But a wide range of menstruation from 10.5 to 15.5 years, Following menarche, breast and public hairs completed.
V. Pubertal Development in Boys
According to adolescence age, in boys, the first sign of puberty is an enlargement of the testes glands. Testes are responsible for sperm production. In this process, the penis begins to enlarge and public hair also appears. First ejaculation (Spermarche) occurs aroundable 13.5.
2. Physical Growth
In children, rapid height growth and weight is the first sign of puberty. Before two years, girls have entered adolescence than boys because estrogens are a trigger. In early adolescence age, girls are taller and heavier than boys.
By age 16, in girls’ body size completed, and by age 17.5, boys’ body size completed.
In this period, adolescence adds 10 to 11 inches in height and 50 percent of adult body weight aroundable 50 to 75 pounds (22.67 kg to 34 kg).
I. Body Proportion In the period of puberty, the first growth of hands, legs, and feet. Sex hormones are also affecting the Skeleton.
II. Muscle Fat Makeup A roundtable between 11 to 16 ages, adolescence accelerates on arms, legs, and trunk. Boys develop larger skeletal muscles, hearts, and lung capacity because red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the muscles with the increasing processes. So, boys gain more muscle strength than girls.
III. Brain Growth In adolescence, pruning is continuing in the cerebral cortex. The prefrontal cortex plays an important role in decision-making and cognitive control. In the adolescent period, myelination and synaptic pruning are increasing in the prefrontal cortex.
The limbic system (thalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) is responsible for emotional experiences, memory, and motivation. The limbic system plays an important role in brain development and growth also.
3. Cognitive Development
Jean Piaget explained adolescence as the 4th stage of development. This stage is called ‘Formal Operational Stage.”
Piaget’s experiment on children related to hypothetical deductive reasoning. And showed that adolescents are able to hypothetical thoughts with a deductive approach. In this stage, the adolescent develops a sense of sexual identity.
4. Social Development
Social development plays an important role in the development of adolescence.
In the psychosocial theory, Erikson explained the fifth stage of “Identity vs role confusion”. This stage is related to adolescence.
5. Self Understanding
The adolescent is able to self-understanding. Adolescent’s self-understanding becomes more complex, well-organized, and consistent way. The two aspects of self-understanding. They are changes in self-concept and changes in self-esteem.
I. Changes in Self Concept
Between 12 to 14 years old adolescents’ personality traits are intelligent-dork and introvert-extrovert. Adolescents are more emphasized on friendly, considerate, kind, and assistant to others.
II. Changes in Self Esteem
Self-esteem is a process of evaluation of self-concept. Adolescence adds a new dimension to self-evaluation. High self-esteem leads to consistency. And low self-esteem leads to inconsistency.
6. Moral Development
In adolescence period, adolescents have increased their moral values. This moral value is dependent on religion, custom, tradition, family members, and peer groups.
Peer Relationship
During this period, adolescence spent maximum time with peer groups than with family members. The main feature of peer relationships is friendship.
I. Friendship Adolescents like friendship. This friendship is dependent on likeness, favorable, intelligence, cooperation, sharing, and interest.
Many adolescents make friends on the internet with the help of Facebook, and Instagram. And closed friendships are presented with the help of exploring the self, intimate relationships for the future, deal stress, and improving attitudes.
Adolescence Problems
Adolescent suffers from depression, anxiety, suicide, school dropout, substance abuse, crime, and sexually transmitted diseases (AIDS).
Health Issues in adolescence age
I. Eating Disorder The adolescent is facing an eating disorder. Dieting is the most important factor in anorexia nervosa.
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