Developmental Patterns of Adolescence

1)Begins with puberty(the ability to reproduce begins, entails the maturation of reproductive system and all primary and secondary sexual developmental changes 2) 2nd stage of rapid growth(2-8 inches in females and 4-12 inches in males) 3)Weight gain(15-55lbs in women and 15-65lbs in males) 4) Average muscle/fat ratios;50% muscle 16% fat in men, 40% muscle 27% fat women 5)Females adolescents signaled by menarche(1st menstrual period): Males by sperm production 6)Vital Signs: P 70 bpm, R 20, B/P 120/70 7)Identity vs role confusion(Search for oneself may cause dissonance in home relationships, all previous psychosocial development stages must be re-challenged in light of new development 8)Formal Operation Stage of Though Cognitive Development(Higher thought permits abstract reasoning and scientific systematic problem solving 9)Challenging of moral and ethical beliefs to form own opinions