Body Issues: Health Related Behaviours and Attitudes

Adolescent Psychology - Chapter 5

Mortality

· 26% of adolescent deaths – homicides & suicides

· 50% accidents – primarily car accidents

· Male more likely to be involved b/c are more violent and are risk takers

Health Decisions

· Depend on complex interplay b/w:

o Knowledge of health consequences of particular behaviours

o Ability to judge risks and make rational decisions

o Parent’s behaviour

o Resources available to teens & families

o Peer pressure

o Societal values

Body Image

· Better you feel about self better health choices you make

· Physical Attractiveness

o Linked to popularity, peer acceptance, personality development, social relationships

o Self esteem largely based on attractiveness

o Attractiveness affects female self esteem & social status more than boys

· Body Types and Ideals

o Ectomorph, mesomorph, endomorph

o Most adolescent girls are dissatisfied with their bodies and would like to be ectomorphic – blamed on media

o This has lead to an increase in plastic surgery – rhinoplasty most common procedure, followed by breast reduction

o significant source low self-esteem & depression

o negative social experiences during early years exacerbate appearance issues e.g. teasing by parents or peers

o race & ethnicity play a role – tendency to view self as overweight in increasing order: blacks, whites, Asia and Hispanics tied

o boys want mesomorphic body – often slim boys dissatisfied b/c want to be more muscular

o males tend to become happier with their bodies through adolescence girls don’t

· Early & Late Maturation

o Onset of puberty has an impact on self esteem if the process occurs at a rate that is atypical

· Early Maturing Boys

o Tend to be more coordinated, be larger and stronger than their age-mates, have earlier relationships with girls, be in leadership roles

o However, may also delinquent behaviour as adolescent is unable to handle some of the freedoms that come with the maturation

· Late Maturing Boys

o Generally have lower self-esteem due to not being as socially accepted d/t lack of physical development

o More have worse relationships with parents and be rebellious & aggressive

· Early Maturing Girls

o Puts them considerably out of sync with age-mates – are taller, bigger, sexually developed

o Makes them feel awkward and self conscious

o More likely to hang out with older boys and become sexually active earlier

o Experience internalizing disorders such as anxiety and depression

o Often become rebellious

· Late Maturing Girls

o Tend to hang around younger peers

o Over-looked for certain activities such as parties and dances

o Have much in common and therefore friendships with boy (b/c boys develop later)

· Deviance hypothesis – problems that arise d/t early or late puberty in either males or females

· Weight – Obesity

o Adolescents are concerned with weight but stats on levels of obesity continue to rise and how obese continues to rise

o Health problems – high BP, cholesterol, diabetes as well as social issues

o Personal contributors to being overweight:

§ Genetics

§ Motivation to eat – obese use it as positive reinforcement b/c it is enjoyable

§ Eating patterns – obese teen unhappy so try to limit food intake e.g. skip breakfast, leads to binge eating

§ Food preferences – increased prevalence of high calorie snacks and fast food

§ Lack of exercise

o Interpersonal interactions & obesity

§ Family contributors – parents can set good examples, or not

§ Peer contributors – tend to be like peers

o Environmental Influences

§ Schools – policies and role modeling

§ Community – provide parks and community centers, or not

Eating Disorders

· Adolescent girls desire to be slim - d/t societal stereotypes

· Eating disorders are 3rd most common chronic disorder affecting adolescents

· Anorexia Nervosa (starvation sickness, dieter’s disease)

o Diagnosis – min 15% under normal body weight, and excessive fear of weight gain, distorted body image, female - amenorrhea

o Associated with slow heart rate, cardiac arrest, low BP, dehydration, hypothermia, electrolyte imbalance, constipation, impaired mental performance, brain alterations

o Approximately 10% with condition die

o 95% are female, 12-18 y.o.

o Affects 1% of all adolescent females

o Obsessed with working out, families are usually non-cohesive & unsupportive, some link to sexual abuse

o Develops after puberty, so sexual conflict is central issue, an attempt to repress sexual development

o Sense of inadequacy and are depressed, high anxiety levels, dependent, perfectionists, self-doubting, view body with disgust – reflection of how feel about themselves

· Bulimia

o Binge-purge syndrome

o Binges associated with anxiety, depression, self-deprecating thought

o 90% female, later adolescence, low SES

o Low self image, shy, lack assertiveness, often perfectionists

o Families tend to stress attractiveness, physical fitness, achievement

Health Related Behaviours

· Nutrition

· Caloric intake for girls increases about 25% b/w 10-15, 90% for boys b/w 10-19

· Active male adolescents need 2500-3000 kcal, girls 2200

· Average adolescent diet; insufficient calcium, iron, protein, vit A & B6

· Girls generally worse nutrition b/c eat less, and diet more

· Reasons for inadequate diets: skip breakfast, snacks – ¼ of daily food intake, mostly fats, CHOs, & sugar, eat only small quantities of nutritious food, inadequate knowledge of nutrition, social pressures, troubled family relationships – broken homes tend to be associated with poor nutritional habits, low SES

· Exercise

· Exercise rate decreases as adolescents get older

· Positive correlation b/w mental health, social competence and physical activity

· Girls may be more encouraged to participate if have “safe” environment where can sweat and be awkward and not feel embarrassed by it

· Sleep

· Impacts academic scores

· Adolescents need more sleep than kids

· Biological basis – melatonin production and secretion occurs later at night therefore don’t get tired till later