Date: 09.08.

2023
Time: 11.00am-12.15pm
Topic: Understanding the Psychosocial Changes in Adolescence
Facilitator: Junior student counsellor
Department: BBA
Year: I, II, III

AIM:

To enable learners to:

 Accept that change is an inevitable part of life

 Understand the physical and psychosocial changes during adolescence
 Appreciate that growth and development is a continuous process.
 Understanding the Psychosocial Changes During adolescence
 Importance of Maintaining Menstrual Hygiene.
 Importance Of Nutrition for Physical and Mental Health

TIME TO CHANGE- ADOLESCENCE

PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES

Physical effects of teen hormone

In order for boys and girls to develop properly into men and women and be able to reproduce,
hormones (from the Greek hormaein, to arouse) are needed to stimulate their bodies to
change.

When your body reaches a certain age, your brain releases a special hormone that starts the
changes of puberty. It's called gonadotropin-releasing hormone, or GnRH for short. When
GnRH reaches the pituitary gland (a pea-shaped gland that sits just under the brain), this
gland releases into the bloodstream two more puberty hormones: luteinizing hormone (LH for
short) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH for short). Guys and girls have both of these
hormones in their bodies. And depending on whether you're a guy or a girl, these hormones
go to work on different parts of the body.

In girls, FSH and LH target the ovaries, which contain eggs that have been there since birth.
The hormones stimulate the ovaries to begin producing another hormone called estrogen.
Estrogen, along with FSH and LH, causes a girl's body to mature and prepares her for
pregnancy.

So that's what's really happening during puberty — it's all these new chemicals moving
around inside your body, turning you from a teen into an adult with adult levels of hormones.

Puberty usually starts some time between age 7 and 13 in girls and 9 and 15 in guys. Some
people start puberty a bit earlier or later, though. Each person is a little different, so everyone
starts and goes through puberty on his or her body's own schedule. This is one of the reasons
why some of your friends might still look like kids, whereas others look more like adults.

Signs of puberty in girls include the following:

 Appearance of underarm and pubic hair

 Breast development
 Growth spurt (period of rapid growth; girls usually reach their adult height by about
16 years of age)
 Menstruation (menstrual periods)
 Increase in subcutaneous (under the skin) fat in the pelvis, breasts, and upper back
 Girls will produce stronger body Odors and may develop acne or other skin problems.

PSYCHOLOGICAL CHANGES:

The fifth psychosocial stage occurs during the ages of 11-18. Adolescents begin to consider
their futures and decide on careers. During this stage they face the conflict of identity versus
role confusion. If the adolescent formulates a satisfying plan of action about his/her future,
then the outcome is positive and establishment of identity is achieved. Adolescents who do
not develop this sense of identity may develop “role confusion” and aimlessly move through
life without any plan of action or sense of security about their future.
Why identity is important

we all have a certain image of ourselves - beliefs about the kind of person we are. Having a
strong sense of identity seems to be desirable, something that brings comfort and security .
Many people seem to spend a lot of time trying to figure out who they are, what they want,
and what they believe.

And perhaps rightly so: having a strong identity certainly seems to have advantages. A clear
sense of "who you are" makes it easier to connect with other similar people and groups.
People with a strong identity often stand out more and are more memorable. I'd guess that the
people who are most successful in life - especially people who become famous - all have
pretty strong identities.

Identity also helps us to make decisions and to know how to behave. We're constantly faced
with complex decisions and circumstances. With no prior beliefs about what we should do,
weighing all the options and making a decision would be near impossible. Having a sense of
what kind of person, you are makes it much easier to decide how you should behave, and to
have confidence in your choice between options. This makes decisions that would otherwise
be agonising virtually effortless.

PSYCHOSOCIAL CHANGES:

BIOLOGY OF LOVE:

Lust is driven by the desire for sexual gratification. The evolutionary basis for this stems
from our need to reproduce, a need shared among all living things. Through reproduction,
organisms pass on their genes, and thus contribute to the perpetuation of their species.

The hypothalamus of the brain plays a big role in this, stimulating the production of the sex
hormones testosterone and estrogen from the testes and ovaries (Figure 1). While these
chemicals are often stereotyped as being “male” and “female,” respectively, both play a role
in men and women. As it turns out, testosterone increases libido in just about everyone

Attraction involves the brain pathways that control “reward” behaviour which partly explains
why the first few weeks or months of a relationship can be so exhilarating and even all-
consuming.
Dopamine, produced by the hypothalamus, is a particularly well-publicized player in the
brain’s reward pathway – it’s released when we do things that feel good to us. In this case,
these things include spending time with loved ones and having sex. High levels of dopamine
and a related hormone, norepinephrine, are released during attraction. These chemicals make
us giddy, energetic, and euphoric, even leading to decreased appetite and insomnia – which
means you actually can be so “in love” that you can’t eat and can’t sleep.

IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING MENSTRUAL HYGIENE

 Girls and women may use sanitary napkins, or cloth.

 Always use a clean sanitary napkin that should be changed frequently (every four to
six hours) to prevent bad odour, or infections.
 If a cloth is used which needs to be reused, it should be washed thoroughly and
disinfected by drying in the sun.
 Good genital hygiene is particularly important during periods.
 There is no reason not to bathe or wash hair during periods

The facilitator should share the following facts related to maintaining good genital hygiene:

 Wash genitals daily with water. No special soaps or antiseptic are required
 While washing after defecating (passing stools), wash in a front to back motion to
avoid any infection.
 Change undergarment regularly (at least once a day) and avoid synthetic underwear
 Undergarment should be washed carefully so that all detergent is washed off. Dry
them in the sun as sunlight is an excellent disinfectant.
 To avoid excessive sweating and infection, pubic hair may be trimmed using a clean
pair of scissors.
 Washing genitals after urination helps in maintaining hygiene.
 Importantly, genitals should be treated like any other part of the body
ACTIVITY:
The facilitator created group of five members and gave the paper with the following
sentences to discuss and mark True/false for each statement.
  Adolescence is a phase filled with problems and fears
 Girls are dirty when they are menstruating
 Adolescents are irresponsible and should not be trusted
 Young people who are informed and prepared for the changes during adolescence will
get distracted and not focus on their studies
 It is not possible for adolescents to get along with their parents
 A girl cannot get pregnant at her first menstruation
 Experiencing physical attraction is a part of growing up
 A girl should not engage in physical activity during menstruation
 During adolescence, girls’ bodies mature earlier than boys of their own age

POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Social media has a profound impact on college students, offering both positive and negative
effects. On the positive side, social media provides a platform for students to connect with
peers, engage in academic discussions, and access a wealth of information and resources that
can enhance their learning experience. It also offers opportunities for networking, building
professional relationships, and staying informed about campus events and extracurricular
activities. However, the negative impacts are significant as well. Excessive use of social
media can lead to distractions, reducing students' focus and productivity. It can also
contribute to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem, driven by
the pressures of social comparison and cyberbullying. Moreover, the constant exposure to
idealized images and lifestyles can create unrealistic expectations and body image concerns.
Balancing social media use with academic and personal responsibilities is crucial for
maintaining both mental and physical well-being among college students.

IMPORTANCE OF NUTRITION FOR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH

Nutrition plays a critical role in maintaining both physical and mental health, especially for
college students who face unique challenges and stressors.
PHYSICAL HEALTH
1.Energy Level: Adequate nutrition provides the energy necessary for daily activities and
academic responsibilities. Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are essential macronutrients that
fuel the body.
2.Immune Function: balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, vitamin
D, zinc, and iron, strengthens the immune system, helping students ward off illnesses and
recover more quickly when they do get sick.

3.Bone Health: Nutrients like calcium and vitamin D are vital for bone development and
maintenance, which is particularly important during the college years when bone mass
continues to develop.

4.Weight Management: Proper nutrition helps maintain a healthy weight, reducing the risk of
obesity and related conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

MENTAL HEALTH

1.Cognitive Function: Nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and B vitamins
(especially B6, B12, and folate) are essential for brain health. They support cognitive
functions like memory, concentration, and problem-solving.

2.Mood Regulation: Diet influences neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin and
dopamine, which regulate mood. Consuming a balanced diet with adequate levels of complex
carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats can help stabilize mood and reduce symptoms of
depression and anxiety.

3.Stress Management: Certain foods can help mitigate the effects of stress. For instance,
foods high in magnesium, such as leafy greens, nuts, and seeds, can help relax muscles and
reduce stress.

4.Sleep Quality: Proper nutrition influences sleep patterns. For example, avoiding excessive
caffeine and sugar while ensuring adequate intake of nutrients like magnesium and
tryptophan can promote better sleep quality.

The facilitator instructed the students to plan for a balanced meal to include a variety of foods
from all food groups to ensure a balanced intake of essential nutrients and to include healthy
snack options like fruits, whole grain options, nuts to avoid unhealthy snacking. Also to
minimize consumption of highly processed foods, high sugar foods that can impact energy
levels and moods and to drink plenty of water as its crucial for both physical and mental
health.