Week 5. Montante. Ch. 8. Adolescence

      Week 5. Montante. Ch8. Adolescence

             

Adolescence is the process of developing from a child into an adult. The age ranges from 13 and 19, but the physical and psychological changes that happen can start earlier during their preteen years. Everyone’s adolescence start is different. Girls might consider it starting when they get their first period, boys say it starts when facial hair begins to grow. Hormonal balance is one of the triggers of puberty, but it is hard to pinpoint the start of it.

One part that stood out to me, since I am a girl, is a girl’s first menstruation. I remember getting mine back in 5^th grade, but I never feel like I am transiting into a ‘young adult’. For me begin Mexican, I felt transiting into a young adult when I had my sweet 15. This section mentioned “when does adolescence start” and for me it was my sweet 15, rather than having my first period. It is interesting enough how some researchers have linked childhood obesity to early onset pf menarche (Anderson, Dallal, & Must, 2003; lee at al., 2007). I believe there is truth behind that and yet I would not considered connecting both together.

Body image and eating disorders are also very common for adolescent to come across. Eating disorders are the third most common chronic condition among adolescents (pg 190). Two of them listed are anorexia which is the one that you starve yourself to stay thin and Bulimia where you would eat, but then throw up after to stay or become thin. Personally to me, I have had friends who were extremely thin and not by choice. I had a friend back in high school who would eat the unhealthiest foods, chips, sodas, everything bad for you and would not gain weight. She would complain about not being able to gain weight like the rest of us, where many people would tell her that her problem was nothing. This leads into body image. When I think of body image I initially think someone who wants to be skinny. But back in high school many of my friends including the one friend I mentioned were self-conscious about their ‘skinny weight’. Body image effects everyone at any age, but it is most highlighted with young adults.

Piaget’s fourth and last level in the ability to think stages hits middle adolescence in the level of abstract thoughts. For the 11 years old and up is for the formal operational stage. By that stage an individual can think abstractly, reason logically, exhibit hypothetical thinking, and combine groups of concrete operations. For example the film we had for this week Shelby at that age challenged her peers and her school. For me at the age I was questioning everything to my parents, my friends and even my homework. It is at that age where culture and influence cognitive development.

Sexual behavior is also talked about with this chapter and it links with adolescence because at this age is where sexual behavior becomes more known. I remember in 5^th grade we took a trip (I cannot recall the name of it), but we were split up between male and female and in our group we talked about our sexual identity and our menstrual cycle. Interesting to learn, yet embarrassing to ask about. This chapter also brings up some mental health issues that I feel are important for young adult to know and be aware about. Adolescence suicide represents the third leading cause of death among teenagers (Shaafer & Pfeffer, 2001 page 199). Every day in the news we hear a new story about a young adult taking their life and there are a number of factors that contribute to that decision. The excessive alcohol use during one’s teen years can impair later brain functioning (Cleveland & Wiebe, 2003 page 200). I feel the use of drugs or drinking depends on how they were expose to it and how it was used. Of course during the teen years we are influenced by other peers and are more likely into those negative actions.