Health Promotion For The Adolescent

1. Health Promotion for the
Adolescent
(Ages 11-21)
Suzanne Green, RN
NSG 624

2. A Time of Changes
•A time of rapid physical changes
•Growth occurs to reach most of adult
height
• Puberty
•Mental growth – understanding logical and
abstract thinking
•Moral growth
•Growth in independence

3. Female Puberty
•Female puberty usually begins 2 years earlier
than males
•Females also have an earlier growth spurt than
males
•Breast bud development followed by growth
spurt
•Onset of menstruation approximately 2 years
after appearance of breast buds
•Axillary and pubic hair
•Sweat glands and sebaceous glands more
active
•Puberty should begin by 13 years

4. Male Puberty
•Thinning of scrotal sac and enlargement of
testicles
•Ejaculation is a milestone
•Nocturnal emissions may occur and are normal
•Facial hair
•Pubic hair
•Voice deepens
•Growth spurt
•Puberty should begin by 14 years

5. Potential Physical Problems
of Puberty
•Scoliosis
–S-Shaped curvature of the spine
–Scoliosis screening recommended
–Early intervention is important
•Acne
–Body image is an important issue for
adolescents!

6. Objectives for Adolescents
•Reduce prevalence of overweight and obesity in
adolescents ages 12-19
•Reduce the incidence of suicide and injurious suicide
attempts among adolescents ages 15-19
•Reduce deaths caused by motor vehicle accidents among
youths ages 15-24
•Increase the proportion of high school seniors who
associate risk of physical or psychological harm with
heavy use of alcohol, regular use of marijuana, and
experimentation with cocaine
•Increase the proportion of adolescents in grades 9-12 who
abstain from intercourse or use condoms if sexually active

7. Immunizations for Adolescents

8. Health Perception-Health
Management Pattern
•Adolescents have fewer acute illnesses than
younger children and fewer chronic illnesses
than adults.
•Should still be seen by their provider regularly to
monitor physical and psychological changes.
•Developing good health habits now will develop
patterns that can last a lifetime.
•Watch out for risk-taking behaviors.

9. Nutritional-Metabolic Pattern
•Teens are concerned with body image.
•At risk for eating disorders such as
Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa
•May experiment with new eating habits,
such as vegetarianism
•Fast food, soda, and sweets may be
consumed in excess
•Obesity in teens is also a problem

10. Elimination Pattern
•Renal and GI systems are functionally
mature in adolescents
•Elimination patterns are consistent with
adult patterns
•Eating disorders may affect elimination
•Modesty may affect elimination patterns in
public places such as school

11. Activity-Exercise Pattern
•Lean muscle growth in adolescents result
in increased strength and endurance
•Regular exercise should be encouraged
•Organized sports promote healthy lifestyle
patterns
•Sports physicals are a good opportunity
for the practitioner to make contact with
the elusive adolescent!

12. Sleep-Rest Pattern
•Adolescents need an average of 8 hours
sleep each night
•Work and other activities put adolescents
at risk for sleep deprivation.
•Strive for a good balance to prevent burn-
out.

13. Cognitive-Perceptual Pattern
•Able to think abstractly.
•Reemergence of egocentrism
•Often think they are unique or exceptional,
resulting in risk-taking behaviors.
•Adolescents are idealists-often reject traditional
ideas such as family beliefs or religion
•Primary developmental role is establishing
identity
•Approval of peers is important
•May try on many different roles seeking the right
“me”

14. Self-Perception-Self-Concept
Pattern
•Self-perception and body image are
important
•At risk for low self-esteem
•Praise adolescents for who they are,
rather than what they do
•Value the adolescent for his or her unique
abilities

15. Roles-Relationships Pattern
•Peer group replaces parents as most important
influence
•Belonging to the “clique” or “gang” is important
to the adolescent
•May conform to the peer group’s style of dress
and speech
•Parents can maintain communication with their
teen by listening, negotiating, and finding ways
to voice concerns in an open, honest way

16. Sexuality-Reproductive Pattern
•Adolescents become aware of themselves as sexual
human beings
•May become sexually active for a variety of reasons
–Seeking affection
–Peer pressure
–As a symbol of maturity
•May question of they are homosexual
•Same-sex experimentation does not necessarily indicate
homosexuality
•Risks:
–Adolescent pregnancy
–STD’s

17. Coping-Stress Tolerance Pattern
•Adolescents often lack the maturity to cope with stresses
•At risk for depression and suicide
•Watch for verbal and non-verbal clues of depression and
suicide
•Warning signs include:
–Increased risk taking
–Substance abuse
–Decreased appetite
–Alienation from family or peers
–Mood swings
–Sleep disorders
–Preoccupation with death

18. Values-Beliefs Pattern
•Adolescents begin to form moral reasoning
•Understand right or wrong
•May know what is right, but choose wrong due to peer
pressure
•Often align their beliefs with a particular religion or
philosophical school of thought, although their allegiances
may change frequently
•Parents, teachers, and health care providers should
provide positive role modeling
•Reinforce positive behaviors
•This is the time in life we may like our children the least
and they need us the most!

19. Safety Issues
•Accidents are among the leading causes of
death and injury during adolescence.
•Motor vehicle fatality rate for adolescents is 20
times higher than for any other age group
•Encourage seat belt use
•Encourage to avoid drunk driving, cell phone use
while driving, distractions such as too many
passengers, changing radio stations, etc.

20. Safety Issues
•Sports injuries are common
•Promote use of protective gear
•Practitioners should perform a thorough
sports physical
•Watch for teens who may turn to steroids
and creatine which may put them at risk
for injury and other health problems

21. Safety Issues
•Adolescents today face an unprecedented
risk of injury due to violence
•May feel pressure to join gangs or carry
weapons to protect themselves
•Teens who are valued and nurtured by
caring adults are less at risk to turn to
violence

22. Safety Issues
•Substance use and abuse can be a
significant problem for teens
•Includes alcohol, drugs and tobacco
•Health care providers and parents should
watch for signs