Personal Development

Quarter 3- Module 3: Why am I Like This?

Lesson 1:Development Tasks and Challenges experienced during Adolescence
Adolescence is a period of transition when the individual changes—physically and
psychologically—from a child to an adult. It is a period when rapid physiological and
psychological changes demand new social roles to take place. Prior to these changes, the
adolescents often face a number of crises and dilemmas. It is the period when the child moves
from dependency to autonomy. It demands significant adjustment to the physical and social
changes. It is a fact that all living beings pass through specific stages or phases of
development. Erikson believed that each stage of life is marked by a specific crisis or conflict
between competing tendencies. If individuals know how to negotiate each of these hurdles
successfully, they can develop in a normal and healthy way of life. During this phase,
adolescents must integrate various roles into a consistent self- identity. If they fail to do so, they
may experience confusion over who they are.
Activity1
Instruction: Draw your lifestyle when you’re still a child and your lifestyle when you’re already an
adolescent. Below your drawing, write your characteristics in terms of physical appearance,
emotional state, and behavior. What has changed over the years?

Child Self Adolescent Self

Physical Emotional Behavioral Physical Emotional Behavioral

Physical changes during Adolescence

For girls, you might start to see early physical changes from about 10 or 11 years, but they
might start as early as 8 years or as old as 13 years. These physical changes during puberty
include:
• development of breast
• changes in body shape and height
• growth of pubic and body hair
• onset of menstruation or monthly period
For boys, physical changes usually start at around 11 or 12 years, but they might as young as 9
years or as old as 14 years. These physical changes include:
o growth of the penis and testes (testicles)
o changes in body shape and height
o erections with ejaculation
o growth of body and facial hair
o changes in voice.
Body Image Concerns
It is within the context described above that children and adolescents begin to form their
perception of their own bodies – their body image. Body image can be defined as the subjective
evaluation of one’s body and appearance (Smolak & Thompson 2009). Related to one’s body
and appearance, this comprises thoughts (e.g. “I think I look bad in photographs”), feelings (“I
hate the way I look”), as well as perceptions (“I am too fat”). In body image research, a person’s
body image is often described in terms of the level of body-esteem (referring to self-esteem in
relation to body and appearance) or body dissatisfaction (referring to negative feelings and
thoughts about one’s body and appearance) which a person may be experiencing. Nutrition,
Health, and Hygiene Nutrition and dietary habits during adolescence Adolescence is a period of
rapid physical growth, with a corresponding increase in nutritional requirements to support the
increase in body mass and to build up stores of nutrients. The daily intake of nutritional
requirements increases according to the following factors:
Age: at the beginning of puberty, with the increase of height and at the last stage of
adolescence;
Gender: adolescent girls require 10% more nutrients, iron and iodine in particular than boys;
Pregnancy: during the second half in particular, as well as during the first six months of
breastfeeding, it is advised that the first pregnancy after marriage be postponed at least until the
girl is over 18 years old because it might not be possible to meet added nutritional requirements,
especially among middle income and poor families; and Activities and sports: heavy physical
sports in particular such as swimming, running, and ball games
Improving the nutrition of adolescents Adolescent nutrition can be improved through several
measures including:
• recognition of the increased nutritional requirements of adolescents;
• nutritional education for the promotion of healthy dietary habits stated below;
• adequate diet at specific times;
• control of excessive indulgence in food, especially those foods high in sugar
and fat;
• minimizing the intake of sweets and snacks between main meals, especially
junk food snacks;
• regular physical exercise to burn excess calories and to strengthen muscles;
• regular intake of breakfast;
• use of sugar replacement if prone to obesity; and
• ensuring that poultry and poultry products, including meat are well-cooked, and clean.
Major Health Concerns of Adolescents
Obesity: Obesity is a grave nutritional problem for adolescents. It simply means that the energy
intake exceeds the amount of energy consumed, and the residual difference accumulates in the
body to cause fat. Over consumption of food is the main reason for obesity, specifically foods
rich in sugar, starch and fat, like nuts, sweets, chocolate and soft drinks. Snacks and junk foods
eaten with or in between meals, and popcorn, pizza and nuts consumed while watching
television, also causes obesity. The energy consumed in sports, walking, manual work or
physical exercise is usually less than the calorie intake.
Anemia: Anemia is the most prevalent nutritional deficiency in the world, affecting no less than
two billion people. Primarily caused by iron deficiency, its acute symptoms manifest particularly
among adolescent girls. During menarche, teenage girls need 10% more iron than boys of the
same age because of blood loss in menstruation. Poor families often fail to provide the extra
iron intake needed for these adolescent girls who also have a heavy workload at home. In
addition, there is the possibility of sex discrimination in interfamilial food distribution in some
families with girls having a smaller share than boys.
Iodine deficiency: Iodine is a basic life element for humans. Iodine deficiency leads to goiter,
abortion and mental retardation. Deficiency means a severe lack of nutrition needed that might
have a pathological effect. The need for iodine increases during adolescence.
Depression: The term “depression” is often used in daily conversation to refer to bouts of
sadness, moodiness or disappointment that last for a few days. However, this is not depression,
which is a specific clinically recognized condition diagnosed by psychologists or psychiatrists.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs): The lifestyles adopted by adolescents and youth will
largely decide their risks of having sexually transmitted disease and HIV infection. It must be
understood that these age groups are vulnerable to such infections. For example, ages from 20
to 24 usually have the highest incidence of HIV infection followed by those from 15 to 19 years
of age. Examples for STDs: Syphilis (spirochete), Hepatitis B (virus), Herpes (virus), HIV (virus),
AIDS (disease), Trichomoniasis vaginitis (flagellar), Genital warts (virus) and Chlamydia
infection (intracellular organisms).
Adolescence is a time to build on these basics
Good hygiene habits in childhood are a great foundation for good hygiene in the teenage years.
And if you’ve got open, honest communication with your child, it’ll make it easier to talk about
the personal hygiene issues that come up in adolescence.
Why good personal hygiene matters?
Keeping your body clean is an important part of staying healthy. The simple act of washing
hands before eating and after using the toilet is a proven and effective tool in fighting germs to
avoid sickness. Being clean and well-presented is also an important part of gaining confidence
for teenagers.
Helping adolescent child with the basics of personal hygiene:
Body odor: When children reach puberty, a sweat gland in their armpit and genital area
develops. Regular changing of underwear and other clothes worn next to the skin is especially
important. These clothes collect all sorts of stuff that bacteria love to eat, including dead skin
cells, sweat and body fluids. That’s why they get smelly. The onset of puberty is also a good
time for your child to start using anti-perspirant deodorant. You can encourage your child to do
this by letting her choose her own.
Smelly feet: Smelly feet and shoes can also be a problem, whether you are sporty or not. One
can avoid this by giving your feet extra attention while taking a shower, and making sure they
are completely dry before putting your socks and shoes on. It is a good idea to alternate your
shoes and to wear cotton socks instead of those made of synthetic fibers.
Dental hygiene: Brushing teeth twice a day, flossing and going to the dentist regularly are vital
to avoid bad breath, gum problems and tooth decay.
Girls: Although all teenagers have the same basic hygiene issues, girls will be needing help to
manage their monthly periods. Adolescent girls should be told to change their pads more often
as well as to dispose these used pads hygienically. Teenagers do need extra time in the
bathroom. While teenagers are learning to shave or to handle their periods, these hygiene
activities might take a bit longer.
Boys: Boys will need advice about shaving (how to do it and when to start), looking after their
genitals, and about bodily fluids.
Special Needs: Young people with special needs are likely be needing extra support with their
personal hygiene. When you are thinking about how to discuss hygiene to a child with special
needs, his/her learning ability and style might be a factor. You may consider breaking the
hygiene tasks (such as showering, shaving, using deodorant and cleaning teeth) into small
steps. This way, they might be easier for adolescent to learn.
Start early - before puberty: If you keep reinforcing messages about personal hygiene, most
adolescent will get there in the end.
Activity 2
Instruction: FILL IN THE BLANKS. Write your answer on the space provided.
1. The daily intake of nutritional requirements increases according to the following factors: AGE,
PREGNANCY, GENDER, and ______________.
2. ________ is caused primarily by iron deficiency and manifested by acute symptoms.
3. ______________ can be defined as the subjective evaluation of one’s body an appearance
that comprise thoughts, feelings, and perceptions related to the body’s appearance.
4. Growth of pubic and body hair occurs during ____________.
5. Adolescence is a period of rapid physical __________ , with corresponding increase needs in
nutritional requirements to support the increase in body mass and to build up stores of nutrients.

Performance Task
Instruction: Using the keywords below, create a story about an adolescent character that
experiences a certain challenge and how the character overcome that challenge.

Keywords
House, Forest, Book, Door, Window,
Canteen, Guitar