Topic > Physiological and psychological development in adolescence

The term adolescence has been consistently confused with puberty, hence their use as a synonym. Puberty can be defined as the set of physiological changes involved in a child's sexual maturation, along with other bodily changes that may occur during this period. Adolescence, on the other hand, is defined as the stage from puberty to adulthood and involves the psychological experiences of childhood during this period (Lewis.J, 2016). Adolescence occurs during adolescence ranging from thirteen to eighteen years of age. , a period in which a child undergoes various physiological and psychosocial changes. This article examines the significant developments that occur during adolescence and the impact they may have on future development and the importance of sleep in relation to the physical and cognitive changes that occur during adolescence. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayAdolescent Development. The changes that occur in adolescence can be classified into five groups; physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and behavioral developments (ReCAPP, n.d.). For the purpose of the assignment, this article focused on the first three development changes. Physical development is characterized by a growth spurt, resulting in robust growth of bones and muscles, as well as sexual maturity (puberty). Most teenagers will encounter the following physical changes; growth of pubic and underarm hair, as well as facial and chest hair in boys; oily skin and some cases of acne; changes in body proportions; enlargement of the testicles, erections, first ejaculation, wet dreams, deepening of the voice in boys; masturbation and fantasies about sexual intimacy; breast budding, increased vaginal lubrication and onset of the menstrual cycle in girls. Cognitive development is marked by a dramatic shift in thinking from the concrete to the abstract, giving adolescence a universal set of new mental tools. This allows the adolescent to analyze scenarios logically in terms of cause and effect (ReCAPP, n.d.). Cognitive developments include; develop a sense of values ​​and ethical behavior: recognize the value of traits such as honesty, availability, care for others; develop a social conscience: concern about social issues such as racism, global warming and poverty; seek information and advice from peers; shift the school's focus from play-focused activities to academics; develop a sense of independence; considering future career and employment. In emotional development, adolescents are at immense risk of establishing a sense of identity. The new cognitive skills give them the ability to reflect on who they are and what makes them different from others, unique (ReCAPP, n.d.). Identity is made up of two components; self-concept, refers to the set of beliefs, including roles, attributes, interests, goals, values, religious or political beliefs, and self-esteem, referring to a personal feeling about the self-concept. Skills learned in emotional development include; ability to recognize and manage emotions, have knowledge on how to resolve conflicts fruitfully, develop empathy and team spirit. These developmental changes during adolescence have various impacts on future development during adulthood. First, the physical development of early adolescence usually results in new responses from others, meaning that the young adolescent will no longer be treated as a child but rather as a sexual being deserving of protection. Theteenagers will encounter society's expectations of how young men and women “should” behave. Physical development will also lead to a new concern for physical appearance and body image, where both adolescent girls and boys will want to "fit in" with their peers without realizing their own personal journey. Unique style (ReCAPP, n.d.) . Physical development prepares adolescents for the myriad of changes that occur throughout their lives. According to (Koff & Rierdan, 1995; Stubbs, Rierdan, & Koff, 1989), adolescent girls who are unprepared for the physical and emotional changes of puberty are more likely to experience greater difficulties with menstruation. Second, emotional development prepares adolescents to establish a realistic and coherent sense of identity in the context of affiliating with others and learning to tolerate stress and manage emotions in their later lives (Santrock, 2001). Through personal identity, adolescents' self-esteem is improved by allowing them to muster the courage to face a problem instead of avoiding it. Emotional development also allows adolescents to master the emotional skills (called emotional intelligence) necessary to manage stress and be sensitive and effective in associating with others (Goleman,1994). Cognitive development equips adolescents with higher-level thinking skills that will improve their vision of the future, examine alternatives, and set personal goals (Keating, 1990). Cognitive competence is characterized by the ability to reason effectively, solve problems, think abstractly, and reflect on and plan for the future. Although adolescents have a strong capacity for developing higher-level thinking, most of them still need guidance from elders to establish their potential for making rational decisions. Sleep recovery is strongly correlated with improved physical, cognitive and psychological well-being. Conversely, poor or disoriented sleep is associated with decreased cognitive and psychological functioning and deterioration of physical health (Brand.S & Kirov.R, 2011). When a person is interrupted from sleep, he tries to make up for lost sleep. sleep time. Therefore, recovering lost sleep time after deprivation reveals that sleep is not simply a period of minimized activity or alertness controlled by circadian or ultradian rhythms. Getting enough sleep every night is essential for physical and cognitive health. If an adolescent is deprived of sufficient sleep each night, he or she risks suffering from misregulation of body fat, impaired cognitive function, and hindered athletic performance (Cooper.Z, 2017). This leads to the discussion on the importance of sleep as follows. First, the regulation of body fats. Important hormones that regulate appetite, such as leptin, are produced during sleep, and these hormones become restricted when sleep is inadequate. Therefore, people who do not sleep adequately at night overeat and gain weight (Cooper.Z, 2017). According to research conducted by the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" in 2010, people facing sleep deprivation consume 560 calories more than normal consumption, which is adequate to cause more than 50 pounds of weight gain over the course of a lifetime. year if not combined with greater physical activity (Cooper.Z, 2017). Second, improve cognitive function. Getting enough sleep is essential to enjoying optimal mental acuity. According to research conducted by the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" in 1998, adolescents who did not sleep adequately at night had disappointing results in tests of cognitive function (Cooper.Z, 2017)..