ADOLESCENCE - DEFINITION, MEANING AND PUBERTAL CHANGES


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.                        
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