Unit Four: Adolescence
Lesson 1: The Storm and Stress of Adolescence
Adolescence is the developmental stage between childhood and adulthood, typically from ages 13 to 18. It involves significant physical changes like puberty, psychological growth such as forming a personal identity, and social shifts including increased independence and peer interactions. This period is crucial for preparing for adult roles and responsibilities.
A. Warm-Up Activity
Discuss the questions in pairs:
- What age group do you belong to? (16-17, 18-21, 22-23)
- Do you think you are old enough to face the world?
- Do you ever feel that people do not pay you much attention because of your age? Why?
Answer:
- What age group do you belong to? (16-17, 18-21, 22-23)
- (Your answer will depend on your actual age. For example:) I belong to the 18-21 age group.
- Do you think you are old enough to face the world?
- Yes, I believe I am old enough to face the world. At this age, I have gained a fair amount of knowledge and experience to handle various life situations. However, I also understand that I still have much to learn and will continue to grow and develop with more experience.
- Do you ever feel that people do not pay you much attention because of your age? Why?
- Sometimes, I do feel that people do not pay much attention to me because of my age. This might be because they assume I lack experience or maturity due to being younger. Often, older individuals might overlook the perspectives and opinions of younger people, thinking they are less informed or less capable. This can be frustrating, but it also motivates me to prove my abilities and gain the respect and recognition of others through my actions and achievements.
B. Read the text below and answer the questions that follow:
i. Children must pass through several stages in their lives to become adults. For most people, there are four or five such stages of growth where they learn certain things: infancy (birth to age 2), early childhood (3 to 8 years), later childhood (9 to 12 years), and adolescence (13 to 18 years). Persons 18 and over are considered adults in our society. Of course, there are some who will try to act older than their years. But, for the most part, most individuals have to go through these stages irrespective of their economic or social status.
ii. The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies adolescence as the period in human growth and development that occurs after childhood and before adulthood. This phase represents one of the critical transitions in one’s lifespan and is characterized by fast-paced growth and change which are second only to those at infancy. Biological processes drive many aspects of this growth and development with the onset of puberty marking the passage from childhood to adolescence.
The biological determinants of adolescence are fairly universal; however, the duration and defining characteristics of this period may vary across time, cultures, and socio-economic situations. This period has seen many changes over the past century—puberty, for example, comes earlier than before, people marry late, and their sexual attitudes and behaviors are different from their grandparents, or even parents. Among the factors responsible for the change are education, urbanization, and the spread of global communication.
iii. The time of adolescence is a period of preparation for adulthood during which one experiences several key developments. Besides physical and sexual maturation, these experiences include movement toward social and economic independence, development of identity, the acquisition of skills needed to carry out adult relationships and roles, and the capacity for abstract reasoning. While adolescence represents tremendous growth and potential, it is also a time of considerable risks during which social contexts exert powerful influences.
iv. Many adolescents face pressure to use alcohol, cigarettes, or other drugs and to initiate sexual relationships, putting themselves at high risk for intentional and unintentional injuries, unintended pregnancies, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Many also experience a wide range of adjustment and mental health problems.
Behavior patterns that are established during this period, such as the use or avoidance of drugs and taking or abstaining from sexual risk, can have long-lasting negative and positive effects on future health and well-being. As a result, adults have many opportunities to influence adolescents.
v. Adolescents are different both from young children and adults. Specifically, adolescents are not fully capable of understanding complex concepts, the relationship between behavior and consequences, or the degree of control they have or can have over health decision-making, including that related to sexual behavior.
This inability may make them particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation and risky behaviors. Therefore, laws and policies often treat adolescents differently than adults. For example, laws and policies often restrict adolescents’ access to reproductive health information and services, especially when they are unmarried. In addition, even when services do exist, provider attitudes about adolescents often pose a significant barrier to the use of those services.
vi. Adolescents depend on their families, their communities, schools, health services, and their workplaces to learn a wide range of skills that can help them cope with the pressures they face and make a successful transition from childhood to adulthood. Parents, members of the community, service providers, and social institutions have the responsibility to both promote adolescent development and adjustment and to intervene effectively when problems arise.
[Source: http://www.who.int/maternal_child_adolescent/topics/adolescence/dev/en/ http://childdevelopmentinfo.com/child-development/teens_stages]
C. The passage above has six paragraphs (i-vi). Choose the most suitable headings for paragraphs (i-vi) from the list given below. There are more headings in the box than the number of paragraphs, so you will not use all of them.
List of Headings:
- A journey towards adulthood
- Adolescence and education
- Stages of human life
- Need for collective efforts
- An observation by World Health Organization
- A transition period
- The adverse effects of taking drugs
- Influence of culture on adolescents
- Potential health hazards
- A vulnerable age
Answer:
Headings for Paragraphs:
i. Stages of human life
ii. An observation by World Health Organization
iii. A transition period
iv. The adverse effects of taking drugs
v. A vulnerable age
vi. Need for collective efforts
D. Match the words in Column A with the meanings in Column B in the table below:
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| adolescence | the period of physical and psychological development from the onset of puberty to maturity |
| determinants | a factor or cause that makes something happen or leads directly to a decision |
| acquisition | the act of acquiring or gaining possession |
| tremendous | extraordinarily large in size, extent, amount, power, or degree |
| exert | to put forth effort to do something |
| consequence | something that logically or naturally follows from an action or condition |
| vulnerable | susceptible to injury or disease |
| intervene | to become involved in something (such as a conflict) in order to have an influence on what happens |
| transition | a change from one thing to the next, either in action or state of being |
Answer:
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| adolescence | the period of physical and psychological development from the onset of puberty to maturity |
| determinants | a factor or cause that makes something happen or leads directly to a decision |
| acquisition | the act of acquiring or gaining possession |
| tremendous | extraordinarily large in size, extent, amount, power, or degree |
| exert | to put forth effort to do something |
| consequence | something that logically or naturally follows from an action or condition |
| vulnerable | susceptible to injury or disease |
| intervene | to become involved in something (such as a conflict) in order to have an influence on what happens |
| transition | a change from one thing to the next, either in action or state of being |
E. Answer the following questions:
- What changes are experienced by adolescent youths?
- What are some of the potential health risks faced by adolescents?
- What role can society and the community play in promoting adolescents?
- How are adolescents different from children and adults?
- Do you think you are getting enough support from your family, school, and community? What do you expect them to do for your proper development?
Answer:
- What changes are experienced by adolescent youths?
- Adolescents experience several key changes, including physical and sexual maturation, development of identity, movement toward social and economic independence, acquisition of skills for adult relationships and roles, and the capacity for abstract reasoning. This period involves fast-paced growth and significant personal development.
- What are some of the potential health risks faced by adolescents?
- Adolescents face various health risks, including pressure to use alcohol, cigarettes, or other drugs, initiation of sexual relationships leading to unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. They may also experience mental health problems and adjustment issues, which can have long-lasting effects on their future health and well-being.
- What role can society and the community play in promoting adolescents?
- Society and the community can support adolescents by providing guidance, education, and resources to help them navigate their development. This includes promoting positive behaviors, offering support for mental health issues, ensuring access to health services, and intervening effectively when problems arise. Parents, community members, service providers, and social institutions play crucial roles in fostering adolescent development and addressing challenges.
- How are adolescents different from children and adults?
- Adolescents differ from children and adults in their capacity to understand complex concepts, the relationship between behavior and consequences, and control over health decision-making. They are more susceptible to risky behaviors and may lack full understanding of long-term consequences. Laws and policies often reflect these differences by restricting access to certain services and information.
- Do you think you are getting enough support from your family, school, and community? What do you expect them to do for your proper development?
- [Your answer will be personal and reflect your own experiences and expectations. You should consider how your family, school, and community have been supporting you and what additional support you might need to aid your development.]
F. Suppose you are going to give a presentation on the possible health problems that adolescent youths may face. What problems will you highlight and what solutions would you offer? Write a paragraph (about 150 words) on the topic.
Answer:
In my presentation on adolescent health problems, I would highlight several critical issues. Adolescents often face significant health risks, including substance abuse, unprotected sexual activity, and mental health challenges. The pressure to use alcohol, cigarettes, and other drugs can lead to addiction and severe health consequences, while risky sexual behavior can result in unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
Additionally, mental health issues such as anxiety and depression are prevalent during this developmental stage. To address these problems, I propose a multifaceted approach. Firstly, implementing comprehensive education programs in schools about substance abuse, sexual health, and mental wellness can equip adolescents with crucial knowledge and coping strategies.
Secondly, increasing access to counseling and health services ensures that youths receive support when needed. Lastly, fostering open communication between adolescents, parents, and educators can create a supportive environment for addressing and mitigating these health risks effectively.
G. What do the following words and terms mean?
- infancy
- puberty
- transition
- defining characteristic
- provider attitude
Answer:
- Infancy: The period of human development from birth to around age 2, characterized by rapid physical and cognitive growth.
- Puberty: The stage of adolescence marked by physical and hormonal changes that lead to sexual maturity and reproductive capability.
- Transition: A process or period of change from one state, stage, or condition to another.
- Defining Characteristic: A feature or quality that distinguishes or identifies a particular stage, person, or object.
- Provider Attitude: The attitude or approach of health service providers towards patients, which can affect the quality of care and accessibility of services.
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