The Role of Puberty in Adolescent Development

Research Purpose

The main aim of the paper is to identify the role of puberty during adolescent development. The authors Krasniqi & Cakirpaloglu (2020) highlighted that adolescence brings about a lot of changes in socio-emotional and cognitive development in terms of interaction. The paper mainly analyzes the influence that puberty has on the development of adolescents ‘ physical and mental health. Over the past years, puberty has been under heavy scrutiny and is recorded for its influence on an adolescent’s life as the individual moves into adulthood. Puberty also brings about changes in the cognitive, socio-emotional, and general identity of an adolescent.

Research Questions

Some of the major research questions include the primary influence of puberty on the development of adolescents. Therefore, the paper takes a closer look at the different stages of puberty and how it takes place scientifically. The research analyzes the influence of puberty on cognitive development, the psychological significance of puberty, and the various factors that impact the beginning of puberty. With the different subheadings, the research pays a closer look at the importance of puberty in adolescents’ development. Three primary characteristics play a significant role during the puberty stage: pubertal timing, tempo, and sequence. The age when adolescents become mature is termed pubertal timing.

Research Methods

The research employs a literature review as a research method. This method is used to gather information from different researchers who have studied the same topic on puberty and its influence on the development of adolescents. Krasniqi & Cakirpaloglu (2020) used various research documents from different authors as early as 1969 to 2018 to gather data and information to help readers understand the influence of puberty on adolescent development. Other authors study the impact of puberty on the physical, cognitive, and sexual development of adolescents. The research does an in-depth analysis of the development that takes place in boys and girls. Paying close attention to the changes that take place in both genders, how their bodies change, and the factors that influence these changes.

Research Implications

• Physical development

Girls first develop breasts and public hair between the ages of 8 and 13 years. They reach maturity at 18 years. Girls also show changes in their reproductive system. In boys, the development of the genitals starts at nine years and ends at 13 years. Boys are able to reach maturity at 17 years. One of the most visible signs in men is the development of the scrotum and the growth of pubic hair. Boys also grow in height; their penis increases in size and growth of facial hair.

• Cognitive development

Adolescents go through cognitive development, where they think more critically. During adolescence, the brain continues to develop and increases in terms of function. After puberty, the pre-frontal cortex, mainly responsible for storing memories, continues to grow. Several factors affect the development of the brain, including genes and social, environmental, and nutritional factors.

Research Limitations

The research does not highlight how puberty and depression are linked. However, the study stated that there are higher rates of depression in adolescents who develop early compared to those who develop later in life. Depression is more prevalent in girls than in boys. Therefore, this issue needs to be analyzed to help understand how puberty and depression are linked. Another limitation is the research does not highlight how long the effects of early puberty and its impact on early adulthood. There is a need to analyze how much early puberty influences early adulthood.

Reference

Krasniqi, E., & Cakirpaloglu, P. (2020, June). (PDF) the role of puberty in adolescent development – researchgate. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342361854_THE_ROLE_OF_PUBERTY_IN_ADOLESCENT_DEVELOPMENT