Life Span Development II School Age and Adolescence

Life Span Development II: School age and Adolescence 3 (2+1)

Lesson 17 : Pubertal changes and their effects on adolescent personality

Late maturation in girls

Advantages: Have longer period of time to learn to cope with the changes and more opportunities to share the experiences with peers than early maturing girls. Longer period which is free from restrictions.

Disadvantages: Late maturing girls have a different set of problems. Unlike their early maturing counterparts, these girls

• Find themselves in childish state both physically and in sexual maturation hence are prone to have self esteem.
• Have problems with peer relations and self esteem.
• Have difficulty with being treated like a child by parents and other adults.
  

1. Time of maturation affects the individual’s social and emotional adjustment, sex of the child also determines the advantage and disadvantage of being an early and late mature.
2. For boys, it appears to be an advantage to reach the milestone of maturation early.
3. For girls maturing either early or late can be a source of great embarrassment and concern which can affect the self – concept.
4. Early maturers of both sexes may be unprepared for the changes they experience
5. Late maturers are less surprised by these changes and better informed
6. Late maturers have better role models
7. Individual characteristics – personality factors, attitudes, values and prior experiences, cultural expectations play an important role in how adolescents respond to their physical changes
8. However the advantages and disadvantages of being and early / late maturing depends on social, environmental and value system.
9. Parental guidance, support and encouragement are important for pubertal adjustments than time of maturation.