10 Human Health and Diseases - part 09 - Adolescence

 

10 Human Health and Diseases - part 09 - Adolescence

Adolescence :

• Period of begining with the appearance of secondary sexual characters and the termination with ceassation of somatic i.e. body growth. 
• Regarded as a transitional stage of physical and mental development of child occurring between puberty and the legal adulthood between 10 to 19 years of age where individual is no loger a child but not yet an adult.
• Adolescence in fact is a phase rather than fixed time period in the life. 
• It is a phase of - 

1. Development on many fronts like sexual and reproductive maturity
2. Mental development, 
3. Adult identity and 
4. Transition from socioeconomic and emotional dependant to relative independence.

Stages of Adolescence :

• Adolescents are defined are individual 10 to 19 year age group. 
• The government of India in its National youth policy defines adolescents as 13-19 years. 
• Adolescents is divided in three stage Viz- 

1. Early stage, 
2. Middle stage and 
3. Late stage.

i. Early period (10 to 14 years) :

• The changes include begining of the appearance of secondary sexual characters ; growth reaches to its peak; rapid physical growth; concrete thinking; defining boundries of dependence/independence; self exploration; developing body image; development of intense friendship; seeking to counter instability and evaluation.

ii. Middle period (15 to 17 years) :

• It is characterized by almost complete full development of secondary sexual characteristic.
• Growth slows down, approximately 95 % of the adult stature is attained.
• Thinking is more abstract; concrete thinking under stressful conditions; reestablishing of body image capable of long range thinking; sense of leadership and all powerfulness; preoccupied with romantic fantacy; ability testing to attract opposite sex, peer group help defining behavioral code etc.

iii. Late period (18 to 19 years) :

• It is characterized by establishment of total physical maturity established abstract thinking, intellectual and functional identity; peer group recedes in favor of individual relationship, stable relationship and change from childhood to adulthood relationship.

Physical changes of adolescence :

• Growth spurt : occurs in both boys and girls. 
• In boys muscles develop, skin become oily, broadening of shoulders cracking of voice, development of underarm and chest hair, pubic hair, facial hair, enlargement of penis and testis. 
• In girls development of breast, widening of hip, development of underarm and pubic hair, enlargement of uterus and ovaries.
• Sexual development : Sex organs mature and enlarge, sexual desire, errection of penis in boys, sperm production, ejaculation, ovulation, menstruation and initiation of sexual behaviour.
• Emotional and social changes : This include establishing own identity, fantacy, day dreaming, attention seeking behavior, emotional instability full of energy, sexual attraction. 
• Rapid mood changes conflicts with family, behavioural code (influence by peer group) self exploration and evaluation, formation of new relationship, peer pressure etc.

Always Remember

• Avoid looking at your parents as the enemy. Try to understand that your parents are human beings, with their own needs and feelings.
• Listen to your parents with an open mind, and try to see their point of view.
• Share your feelings with your parents so that they can understand you better.
• Live up to your responsibilities at home and in school so that your parents will be more inclined to grant you the kind of independence you want and need.
• Bolster your criticisms of family, school and government with suggestions for practical improvements.
• Be as courteous and considerate to your own parents as you would be to the parents of your friends.

Mental Health and Adolesence:

• Many of the emotional and social changes have implication on the mental health. 
• Most of the mental health issues that people confront as adults begin to appear in adolesence . 
• The mental health implication includes confusion irritation, moodiness, frustration, nausea, less concentration, hyper activities, anger, effects on life styles like obesity, addictions, accidents, leading to ill health etc. 
• The mental illness in fact is in terms of different forms of depression like insomnia and loss of energy.
• Thus, mental illness (disorders or unfavourable changes) is associated with psychological or behaviour manifestation.
• These are broadly classified as either psychoses or neuroses. 
• Psychoses include delusions, hallucinations, distrubance in the thinking process, etc. 
• The psychoses lead to Alzheimer’s disease schizophrenia, depressive psychosis, etc. 
• Amnesia (loss of memory) Bullimia (extreme over indulgence in food) Anxiety (fear or appretension) Anorexia nervosa (emotional aversion to food) depression (sadness, inactivity reduced to enjoy life, etc.) 
• Neuroses include schizophrenia, illusions, hallucination, etc.
• Adolescence is thus characterized by number of cognitive, emotional, behavioural, physical and attitudinal changes which may lead to positive personality development depending upon the relation with parents or to other conditions, to conflicts to others side. 
• In fact they view their friends peer group more important and influential than their parents.
• This may lead to various kinds of addictions like smoking, taking drugs, etc.

Treatment :

• Treatment of such disorders should be preferentially with non-pharmacological approch with due respect to rights of children.
• WHO has recommended evidence based guidelines under mental health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP).