The word adolescence is derived
from a Latin word meaning “to grow up” or “to come to maturity”. According to
Atwater (1992), adolescence best defined as the period of rapid growth between
childhood and adulthood, including psychological and social development. As
such, adolescence can begin earlier and last longer than the teenage years.
Generally,
puberty begins between the ages of 9 and 16, puberty is derived from the Latin
word, publicere meaning to be covered with five hairs,” (Ejide, 2008) This
period varies from one socio-economic
level to another and from one culture to another. For instance,
Durogaiye (1976)
concluded that Nigerian girls reach puberty between 10 and
14years with a mean of 13.4years.
Ejide
(2008) concluded thus “technically, puberty begins when the part of the upper
brain known as the hypothalamus signal the pituitary gland to release the
hormones known as the Gonaldotropin. The pituitary gland referred to as the
master gland and the endocrine system release the gonaldotropins into the
adolescent’s blood stream during sleep, a year or so before any of the physical
changes associated with puberty become apparent”.
Puberty
is characterized by biological transformations such as the growth of primary
sex organs (testes in males and ovaries in tamales) the development of
secondary sex characteristics, skeletal and muscular growth, and accelerated
glandular activity. It is the period when the individual’s reproductive organs
become ready to function. Onyehalu (1988) observes that puberty is accompanied
by considerable urge for sexual activity leading to frequent teenage
pregnancies across the world, a situation which highlights the need for sex
guidance and sex education for the teenager.
Bout
Uka (1973) contends that the adolescent period may or may not be a critical
period depending on the culture where youngsters find themselves. There seems
to be a controversy on the characterization of adolescent development as a
period of storm and the period presents special developmental problems the
adolescent must resolve.
SEQUENCE OF PUBERTAL CHANGES IN GIRLS
- Height spurt begins.
- Breast buds appear
- Straight, pigmented pubic hair appears.
- Ovaries, uterus, vagina, and labia grow rapidly.
- Kinky public hair appears.
- Menarche occurs.
- Auxiliary body hair grows.
- Breasts develop completely.
SEQUENCE OF PUBERTAL CHANGES IN BOYS
·
Testes and scrotum begin to grow.
·
Straight pigmented pubic hairs appears.
·
Height spurts begins
·
Pains increase in circumference and length.
·
First seminal emission occurs.
·
Kinky pubic hairs appears.
·
Auxiliary body hair grows.
·
Voice changes markedly.
·
Beard begins to grow.
Generally, there
is a change in body chemistry during adolescences. The pituitary gland releases
its growth hormones into the blood stream and such hormones produce great
effects in speeding growth. Other hormones lead to emotional fluctuations in
the young adolescents such that in some cases, personality traits and behaviour
change rather dramatically. Parents, teachers and social workers need
sympathetic understanding of the adolescent rather than scolding and criticisms
in order to help him achieve normal psychological adjustment.
REFERENCES
Atwater, E (1992). Adolescence
3rd Edition. New Jersey: A Simon a
Schuster
Company.
Agulana, C. G. (1999). Family
structure, and prevalence of Behaviour,
Problems
among Nigerian, adolescents the Counsellor 17,(1). 154-159.
Baumrind, D. (1968). Authoritarian
Vs Authoritative Control. Adolescent
3.255-272
Bernard. H. W. (1975). Human Development
in Western Culture. Boston:
Allyn and
Bacon
Ejide, B. (2008) Lecture notes on
EDP 712 Adolescent Psychology. Dept
of Educational
Foundations EBSU. 6th August
Erikson, E. (1959). “Identity and
the life cycle “:Psychological issues,
Vol.1, No1,
International Universities press Inc 78-100.
Erikson, E. (1964) Childhood
and Society. New York: W. W. Norton..
Hall, G. S. (1904). Adolescence
(2 vols). New York: Appleton Century
Crofts
Onyehali,A. S. (1988). Psychological
Foundations of Education Awka:
Meks-unique
Publishers
Sprinthall, R. C. and Sprinthall
R. H (1975) Educational Psychology: A
Developmental Approach.
Massachusetts: Addison Wesley publishing Company Inc.
Shertzer, B. & Stones, S. C.
(1976), Fundamentals of Guidance Boston:
Houghton Mifflin
Company.