Experiencing Adolescence

Experiencing Adolescence: Males vs. Females
Janet M. Sims
PSYCH/600
October 14, 2013
Jody Pendleton
Abstract
Adolescence is the time when children undergo puberty by maturing psychologically and attaining more adult-like behavior. During the first stages of puberty adolescents have rapid height and weight gain, known as a growth spurt. Adolescents gain approximately 10 to 11 inches in height and about 50 to 75 pounds in weight. Body size grows immensely as a result of the growth hormone and thyroxin increase. During puberty boys’ and girls’ motor skills begin to improve tremendously. Girls’ first sign of maturation begins with their first menstrual cycle around 12½ and boys’ first sign of maturation is the enlargement of their testes. Puberty also brings about a change in a child’s relationship with his or her parents and peers. Adolescents desire treatment as though they are adults, and they become more insubordinate. Last, depression has increased greatly in adolescents around age 14, especially in females. Depression tends to get so bad among teens that there are some cases in which it has led to suicidal thoughts.
Experiencing Adolescence: Males vs. Females
Adolescence is the time frame between puberty and adulthood. This is the time when children mature psychologically; thus, attaining more adult-like behavior. During this period girls and boys undergo many drastic changes because of puberty. Endocrine glands produce hormones that influence sexual development during puberty. Adrenal glands generate hormones that enhance armpit hair and sweating, body odor, and acne. As a result of physical changes from puberty, a child develops more advances motor skill. Also children mature hormonally, sexually, and in many other ways.
Puberty
Physical Growth During the first stages of puberty adolescents have rapid height and weight gain, also known as a growth spurt. Normally growth spurts take place in girls around 10 and in boys around 12 or 13. Naturally, girls are heavier and taller than boys. Boys typically pass girls in height and weight around 14 and 15. Hands, legs, and feet increase development first, and torso. Boys’ shoulders broaden, yet girls’ hips widen. In the end, boys are larger than girls. Boys and girls both gain muscle; however, muscles grow greater in boys. Girls increase in body fat; mainly in their arms, legs, and rear end. On average, body growth is complete in girls by 16 and boys by 17½. Adolescents gain approximately 10 to 11 inches in height and about 50 to 75 pounds in weight.
Motor Development
During puberty motor skills begin to improve. Girls gain their motor skills slowly, yet gradually. However, boys have consistent and rapid spurts in speed, strength, and endurance (Berk, 2010). As a result of dramatic physical changes in the genders, physical education becomes gender-segregated in junior high school. Generally in boys, athleticism has a correlation with peer admiration and self esteem. Thus, some boys begin using drugs and other steroids that enhance performance; ignoring the verity that they have major side effects. These side effects include muscle tissue disease, brain seizures, heart irregularities, acne, high blood pressure, aggressive behavior, internal organ damage, and so on (Berk, 2010).
Hormonal Changes
Hormonal changes that trigger puberty begin around age eight and nine. Body size grows immensely as a result of the growth hormone and thyroxin increase. Estrogen and androgens are present in both genders; however, estrogen is more prominent in females and androgen in males. Boys’ testes discharge large amounts of androgens, which results in male characteristics, such as muscle growth and body and facial hair. About 50% of boys experience transitory breast enlargement because of their small amounts of estrogen. Girls’ breast, uterus, and vagina maturate when estrogen release. Estrogen is also a contributing factor in the regulation of the menstrual cycle. Adrenal androgens affect girls’ height and underarm and pubic hair.
Sexual Maturation
Girls’ first sign of maturation generally begin their first menstrual cycle around 12½ or 13. Afterwards breast mature and pubic hair grows, along with underarm hair. A girl’s body does not mature sexually until her body is big enough to bear a child. For the first 12 to 18 months, the menstrual cycles do not release an ovum, causing a girl to become sterile. However, not all girls experience infertility and may become pregnant if they are sexually active.
Boys’ first sign of maturation is the enlargement of testes. The color and texture of their scrotum also changes. Immediately following is the enlargement of their penis and growth of public hair. Around 13-years-old boys may experience their first ejaculation and the semen, at first, has reduced fertility. In addition, boys’ voice begins to deepen as their vocal cords lengthen and their larynx enlarges. These changes are nearly complete by age 14.
Relationships
Parent-Child Puberty triggers psychological distancing from parents. Both adolescent genders refuse to spend time with family and become more insubordinate. As adolescents maturate physically, boys and girls demand parents to treat them like adults. In return, parents begin to give their teens more liberty and obligations. However, aggressive or controlling parents tend to interfere with a child’s development of his or her decision-making skills. This correlates with low self-esteem, depression, or antisocial behavior.
Friendships
Girls share an emotional closeness with their friends and mainly want to talk (Berk, 2010). Boys mainly get together for activities. When boys talk, the conversation focus on their accomplishments and more competitions they want to accomplish; many conversations leading into conflicts. Boys typically focus on achievements, yet girls focus on empathizing. In close friendships, friends tend to think and discuss negative problems and emotions. This often leads to anxiety and depression; mostly in girls. In addition, girls’ friendships tend to have a shorter period because girls like to share delicate information with outsiders when conflicts arise among them.
Depression
Depression increases in adolescence around age 14, mostly in girls (van Beek, Hessen, Huttman, Verhulp, & van Leuven, 2012). Depression is feeling sad, discouraged, and bleak about life. One may lose sleep, appetite, concentration, energy, or pleasure for activities. Researchers did a study using boys and girls to detect the gender differences relates to temperament, coping, and mood. “Girls scored higher on depressive mood than boys and boys scored higher on aggressive mood” (DeBoo & Spiering, 2012, pg. 318). Girls’ acquire because of various life events they encounter and how they choose to cope with it. Girls particularly have an avoidant coping style rather than a social support seeking style; although social support may be more approving in older adolescents (DeBoo & Spiering, 2012). Generally, society deems girls as more depressed than boys; however, any adolescent containing strong feminine traits develop depression, regardless of sex (Berk, 2010). Girls cope poorly, and that prolongs depression. Thus, deep depression leads to thought of suicide.
Conclusion
Adolescence is the turning point in most family relationships. The adolescent years are the most difficult years for parents. Children grow up and become more self-driven and want less adult supervision. In addition, teenagers seek peer acceptance. Adolescents operate in ways that they believe they will be accepted by certain people.
Another issue that arises in adolescents is depression. Depression is a leading factor into suicidal thoughts. Suicide is the third leads cause of death among adolescents. Teens normally give warning signs or statements before committing suicide. Therefore, parents and teachers should become more educated on recognizing the signs of deep depression ad of those with suicidal thoughts. Adults should address these situations directly with compassion, and never judgmentally. Last, adults should get the child professional mental help.
References
Berk, L. E. (2010). Development through the Lifespan (5th ed.). Allyn And Bacon, MA: Pearson Education.
DeBoo, G. M., & Spiering, M. (2012, August). Pre-adolescent Gender differences in associations between Temperament, Coping, and Mood. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 17(4), 313-320.
Moksnes, U. K., Moljord, I., Espnes, G. A., & Byrne, D. G. (2010, October). The association between stress and emotional states in adolescents: the role of gender and self esteem. Personality and Individual Differences, 49(5), 430-435.
Van Beek, Y., Hessen, D. J., Huttman, R., Verhulp, E. E., & van Leuven, M. (2012, September). Age and Gender Differences in Depression across Adolescence: Real or "Bias"? Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 53(9), 973-985.

References: Berk, L. E. (2010). Development through the Lifespan (5th ed.). Allyn And Bacon, MA: Pearson Education. DeBoo, G. M., & Spiering, M. (2012, August). Pre-adolescent Gender differences in associations between Temperament, Coping, and Mood. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 17(4), 313-320. Moksnes, U. K., Moljord, I., Espnes, G. A., & Byrne, D. G. (2010, October). The association between stress and emotional states in adolescents: the role of gender and self esteem. Personality and Individual Differences, 49(5), 430-435. Van Beek, Y., Hessen, D. J., Huttman, R., Verhulp, E. E., & van Leuven, M. (2012, September). Age and Gender Differences in Depression across Adolescence: Real or "Bias"? Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 53(9), 973-985.