ADOLESCENCE PHYSICAL
DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH SCHOOL
LEARNERS
ADOLESCENCE
 Is a period of transition in terms of
physical, cognitive and socio-
emotional changes.
 It begins with the biological changes
of puberty.
• Early adolescence characterized by
puberty may come at the ages of 11
and 12.
• Middle adolescence may meet
identity issues within the ages 14 and
16.
• Late adolescence marks the
transition into adulthood at ages 17
and 20.
FOCUSED ON PHYSICAL
DEVELOPMENT WITH PUBERTY
Marking the major transition manifested by
changes in:
• Physical Appearance
• Rapid rate of growth (next to the
speed of growth of the fetus in the
uterus) known as spurts.
• Resultant feeling of awkwardness
and unfamiliarity with bodily
changes.
• Alterations in sleeping habits and
parent-adolescent relationship
possibly accompanying puberty.
PUBERTY CHANGES
Growth spurts – include a change in body
dimensions:
a. leg length
b. shoulder width
c. trunk length
GROWTH SPURTS
GIRLS VS. BOYS
In girls, the growth spurts generally
begin at the age of 10 reaching its
peak at the age of 11 and-a half
while slow continual growth occurs
for several more years. Growth
height is generally reached at age 16.
For boys, growth spurts generally
begin at the age 12 reaching a peak
at age 14 and declining at the age 15
and-a half, while slow continual
growth continues on for several
years. Growth height reached at age
17.
Growth in height is conditioned by stages in:
• Bone maturation
• Muscles also grow in terms of size
and strength
• Occur for weight, muscle size head
and face maturation and reproductive
organs
FACTORS AFFECTING
DEVELOPMENT
Hormones – are powerful and highly
specialized chemical substances interact
with bodily cells
Hormonal changes in the hypothalamus and
pituitary glands signals the entire process of
sexual
maturation:
• Secretion of gonadotrophic
hormones by the anterior pituitary
gland
• In response to GnRH stimulation
these cells produce LH and FSH,
which travel into the blood stream.
• Gonads and testis are then stimulated
by the gonadotrophic hormones, in
turn stimulating their own hormones
• This stimulation causes the secretion
of testosterone and estrogen for male
and female respectively.
In the male, testosterone stimulates male
characteristics comprised by:
i. Spermache enlargement of the testis
gland that produces sperm in the
scrotum, growth of the penis male
organ for copulation.
ii. Capacity for ejaculation of male
sperms
iii. Voice change
iv. Facial hair development or beard
growth and continuing growth of
pubic hair.
Occurring late in puberty:
 The lowering of the voice caused by
enlargement of the larynx
 Double lengthening of the vocal
cords is viewed to be the most
obvious aspect of adolescent
development.
Spermache - signals the first sign of puberty
and sexual maturity of boys.
The need to discharge semen mixed with
sticky fluid produced by the prostate gland
occurs periodically.
 Discharge of semen occurs during
sleep caused by sexual dreams.
 It may also occur during conscious
manipulation of the male sexual
organ known as masturbation.
In girls, estrogen secretion triggers the
beginning of:
 Breast enlargement
 Appearance of pubic hair
 Widening of the hips
 Menarche or first menstruation
The Secular Trend
- Is a phenomenon of more rapid
physical maturation during this
century.
 Girls in industrial societies had their
first menstrual period at the age 15-
17 and
age later in repressed societies
 Boys reached their maximum height
at the age 23-25 and 19-20 for girls.
Secular Trend is ascribed to varied factors:
• Interaction of genetic and
environmental influences
• Improved health care and living
conditions
• Control of infectious diseases
• Better nutrition
Sexual Identity
Adolescence
- Is a time of sexual exploration and
experimentation with sexual
fantasies and realities of
incorporating sexuality with one’s
identity.
Adolescents
- Are concerned about their body
image sexual attractiveness how to
do sex and the future of their sexual
lives.
- Managed to develop a mature sexual
identity but a number go through it
with much confusion.
Adolescent’s sexual identity
- Involves sexual orientation,
activities, interests, and styles of
behavior.
- Are very anxious about sex and
sexually active but others are only a
bit anxious about sex and are
sexually active.
Sexual Orientation
- Is a person’s tendency to be attracted
to people of the same sex
(homosexual
Orientations), of the opposite sex
(heterosexual orientations), or of both sexes
(bisexual orientations).
Development of homosexual identity:
 Sensitization marked by the child’s
becoming aware of same sex
attractions
 Identity confusion when the youth is
overwhelmed with feelings of inner
turmoil
regarding sexual orientation
 Identity assumption when
adolescents come out of the family
and assumes a self-definition as gay,
lesbian, or bisexual
 Commitment when the young adult
adopts a sexual identity as a lifestyle.
Coming to terms with a positive LGBT
identity is usually difficult for variety of
reasons:
 Family
 Race and religious cultures
Risks to the homosexual adolescent are:
 Real amid a heteronormative
environment
 Ostracism
 Hurtful jokes
 Violence
Self-esteem
- Is defined as one’s thoughts and
feelings about one’s self-concept and
identity.
Boys
- Are prone to assert independence in
defining their relationships, deriving
 self-esteem from their ability to
successfully influence others.
Girls
- enjoy self-esteem through supportive
relationship with friends or others
who can provide social and moral
support.
Lack of romantic competence
- Failure to meet the affection of the
opposite sex can be a major
contributor to low self-esteem of
adolescent boys.
• In a Meyer study, the end of a
romantic relationship can affect both
boys and girls, but girls are twice as
likely to experience depression, while
boys are three to four times more
likely to commit suicide.
 Frequent taking of snack foods
(hamburger, fries, pizza, soft drinks,
etc)
 Fast-food eateries
BODY IMAGE AND THE
ADOLESCENT
Consciousness about body image
- Is strong during the adolescent
period.
- It is important that the adolescents
feel confident about how they look,
but
physical features of the human body depend
on genetic heritage which must be
respected.
GOOD HABITS:

Implications for child care, education and  Cleanliness and grooming

parenting  Proper wearing of clothes according
To meet the physical development of to current styles
adolescent children:  Erect body posture
 Parents need to be aware of  Eye contact while communicating
manifestations of behavioral patterns
that require closer communication,  Decorum and decency
guidance and support.
 At school, teachers need to be aware
of the possible drop in self-esteem
among adolescent learners.
Teacher’s support is crucial to
protect adolescent learners against
severe distress and anxiety over their -Kathleen Joyce G. Gagarra-
school work and social relationships.
Adolescents and Nutrition
It is necessary for adolescents to have
sufficient amounts of vitamins:
 B12
 Calcium
 Zinc
 Iron
 Riboflavin
 Vitamin D
Vegetarian Fad
- Can be disastrous to adolescents who
need vitamins, mineral and protein
which
purely vegetable diets cannot provide.
Poor eating habit:
 Skipping meals