Health, Stress, and Coping

1. Health, Stress, and Coping 15 “Look to your health and if you have it value it next to a good conscience; for health is a blessing we mortals are capable of.” — Izaak Walton The Compleat Angler, 1653

2. A Critical Juncture in Health • Many behaviors linked to poor health habits and early death in adults begin during adolescence • Adolescents reach a level of health, strength, and energy that they will never match during the rest of their lives

3. A Critical Juncture in Health • Reduce health compromising behavior: • Drug abuse • Violence • Unprotected sexual intercourse • Dangerous driving • Increase health enhancing behavior: • Exercising • Eating nutritiously • Wearing seat belts • Getting adequate sleep

4. Risk-Taking Behavior • Adolescents like intensity, excitement and arousal • Parents, teachers, and mentors should effectively monitor adolescent’s behavior • Adolescents are vulnerable when their inclination to engage in risk-taking behavior combines with a lack of self-regulatory skills

5. Health Services • Adolescents see private physicians less often than any other age group • Chief barriers to better health care: • Cost • Poor organization and availability of services • Lack of confidentiality

6. Leading Causes of Death Leading Causes of Death in Adolescents and Emerging Adults Fig. 15.1

7. Leading Causes of Death • More than half of all deaths from 15 to 24 years are due to accidents • 3/4 involving motor vehicles • Speeding, tailgating and driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs may be more important contributors than lack of driving experience

8. Nutrition • Males have higher energy needs than females • Basal metabolism rate (BMR) is the minimum amount of energy an individual uses in a resting state

9. Nutrition Basal Metabolic Rates (BMRs) for Females and Males, 11 to 25 Years of Age Fig. 15.2

10. Obesity • 14% of 12- to 19-year-olds • At or above 95th percentile of body mass index • Ethnic variations • African American girls • Latino boys • 80% of obese adolescents become obese adults

11. Obesity • Few cross-cultural comparisons • U.S. children and adolescents higher rate of obesity compared to China and Russia • Factors involved in obesity • Heredity • Environment

12. Obesity • Percentage of Overweight U.S. Adolescent Boys and Girls in Different Ethnic Groups Fig. 15.4

13. Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa • Anorexia nervosa: • Eating disorder that involves the relentless pursuit of thinness through starvation • Bulimia nervosa: • In this eating disorder, the individual consistently follows a binge-and-purge pattern

14. Anorexia Nervosa • Refuse/unable to maintain 85 % of expected weight for frame, height • Intense fear of gaining weight, though underweight • Distorted perception of weight or body shape • Most are White adolescent or young adult females

15. Bulimia Nervosa • Like anorexics: preoccupied with food, have strong fear of becoming overweight, and are depressed or anxious • Unlike anorexics: this occurs within a normal weight range, often difficult to detect

16. Exercise • Adolescents do not get enough exercise • Some experts blame television for the lack of exercise • 40 to 70 percent of American youths participate in various organized sports • Pressure by parents and coaches to win at all costs

17. Sleep • Sleep deficit: • Adolescents get less than 9 hours of sleep during the week • Early school starting times may cause grogginess, inattention in class and poor performance on tests

18. Stress • General adaptation syndrome (GAS): • Alarm • Resistance • Exhaustion

19. Stress • Sources of stress • Life events and daily hassles • Sociocultural factors • Gender • Acculturative stress • Poverty

20. Coping • Problem focused coping • Emotion focused coping • Thinking positively • Support

21. Taking it to the Net • For more information on material covered in this chapter, visit our Online Learning Center: http://www.mhhe.com/santrocka11