1. Adolescent Mind
―Youth are heated by Nature
As drunken men by wine‖
Aristotle
―Abilities v/s Vulnerabilities‖
―Be careful, it is under construction‖
―16wa saal ka ye mod-….‖
RK in MNJ
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2. Adolescent Mind
R. K.Baxi
Adolescent Paediatrician
Professor, Prev&Social Medicine
At
ICMR CME byAPPI&AMCMET
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RkBaxi, Baroda

3. Adolescent Mind
Why the concern?
They constitute over 20% of our population
Though a period of relative health, it has issues with far reaching implications
Vulnerable and yet generally not amenable
They are in the fastest period (outside of womb) of growth n development-
hence the ‗constant flux and imbalance‘
We better understand and care for them as none of their problems/issues are
created by them!
They are our tomorrow-better invest now.
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4. Adolescent Mind
Some brain changes precede puberty, some are indeed due to pubertal
changes while some more are independent of it
Adolescents are ‗not‘ stand alone entity-they constantly interact with
their environ-both macro and micro
So, they should be viewed in the context of their socio,- cultural
and economical background realities
Early, Mid and Late adolescent periods behave differently and most
importantly, absolutely individually(God does not have a
photocopier!)
Major components of over all development are at different velocity and
at times conflicting and confusing at the same time.
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5. Adolescent Mind
Generally, age 10 to 18 years is considered adolescent age ,
However
It is at different velocities for physical growth, puberty, mental, social and
psychological development and behavioral development
―heated by nature‖ explains to an extent the hormonal drives and consequent
changes, however Juliet was Juliet at 13,14 or 17!
Changes that we need to address:
Rapid Physical Growth
Sexual Maturation and developing secondary sexual characteristics
Motivational & emotional changes
Cognitive development
From dependence to unregulated independence to self-regulation
Brain changes linked to all these changes
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6. Adolescent Mind
Recent Neuro-developmental science, using MRI-mapping of the brain has
thrown up many new information.
Its ‗under construction‘ Hence it is normal for an adolescent to
Argue for the sake of arguing
Find fault with adults, parents anyone in authority
Dramatize
Be self-centered(taking others into consideration is development-many adults
also fail to achieve!)
Take risk, experiment with all that is prohibited-Tobacco, alcohol, reckless
driving, sex n drugs
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7. Adolescent Mind
Most of the cognitive development like
Reasoning, planning,
Logic
Inhibitory controls(acculturation)
Understanding consequences
Problem solving etc etc are now understood as functions of PFC
They are more related to age and experiences rather than pubertal
development
Rapid growth, increase in size, connectivity and maturation by pruning
is the process of development and maturation of brain
Hence the ‗vulnerability..‘ these processes are rapid, goes on into 20s
and are adversely affected by drugs, alcohol, Tobacco etc etc..
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8. Adolescent Mind
Recent developments in Neuro science suggest
that Brain development in adolescents is such
that pubertal arousal and motivations, taking
risk come before the regulatory mechanisms are
in place.
It‘s a time of improved connectivity between PFC
and different areas of limbic system. Whether
and how much of it is influenced by
hormones, age, gender and experiences is yet
not fully understood.
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9. Adolescent Mind
Logical competence of age 16 n above is
similar to that of an adult-however,
response to risk taking(sex, drugs,
alcohol, tobacco, rash driving etc) are
driven by peer group, failure to control
impulse, age and gender, socio-cultural
background.
Is this so???
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10. Adolescent Mind
Research Priorities:
1.Ask them.—Need assessment
2.Physical growth and development, including
detecting and tracking some NCDs
3.Effects of environment on puberty
4.Sexuality and cognitive development
5.Psychological development differentials of
Early, Mid and Late adolescence
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11. Adolescent Mind
We have interesting research information-
but they need to be replicated in our
adolescents as they are ―no stand alone
entities‖
A lot of it is ―behavior science research‖-
calling for researchers well trained in
Qualitative research Methodology..
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12. Adolescent Mind
I am fourteen and frail
But uncorrupt and fragrant
Full of dreams and desires
And, the’ ‘will to do’ like fires
Listen to me, give me some space
Protect my grace, brighten my face
For I am your future, - I am
Innocence, I am Adolescence.
Thank You
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13. Adolescent Mind
My sincere thanks are due to:
APPI
AMCMET
ICMR
My children who kept challenging me as adolescents
References:
―A reference for professionals-Developing adolescents-a document by American Psychology
Association(2002)
―Cognitive and affective development in adolescence‖ –Steinberg L Trends in cognitive
sciences,vol.9 No.2,February 2005
―social cognitive development during adolescence‖-Suparna Choudhury et al SCAN(2006) 1,
165-174
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