Health psychology of adolescents and elderly

1. HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
DPT- 2ND YEAR LNH
DR. HARIM

2. ADOLESCENT HEALTH

3. QUESTIONS
• What was adolescence like for you?
• What are the top dangers facing teens?
• What is the public perception of teens?

4. CLASSIFICATION
• Adolescent : 10 – 19
• Youth : 15 - 24
• Young people : 10 -24

5. CLASSIFICATION
• Puberty is the stage of the lifespan in which a child
develops secondary sex characteristics.
• The average age for girls:- 10-12 The average age
for boys 12-14.

6. ADOLESCENT CHANGES
• Physical maturing
• Psychological
maturing
• Social maturing

7. IMPORTANCE OF ADOLESCENT HEALTH
• Developing Countries
• Parents of next generation.
• Early menarche
• Early/Late marriages
• Urbanisation, migration
• Less family influence
• Exposure to mass media

8. PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN ADOLESCENTS
• Personal and social problems.
• Problems of health and physical self-esteem.
• Sex and reproductive health problems.
• Home and family related problems.

9. DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS

10. CHALLENGES

11. AM I NORMAL ?
• Rapid growth. . .Cause of Concern!
Adolescents have a
fundamental human
right to accurate and
comprehensive
reproductive and
sexual health
information.

12. ADOLESCENTS : SOME FACTS AND PERCEPTIONS
• Adolescents between 10-19 years make up one fifth of India’s population and also a
potential group for contracting HIV.
• Adolescent girls constitute a disproportionate (25%) portion of the 5 million abortions
performed annually.
• High morbidity and mortality associated with pubertal and adolescent pregnancy.
• Cultural practices often involve sexual abuse or exploitation, and act as barriers to
responsible sexuality.
• Boys and girls reveal a poor understanding of their sexuality and information sources
seem to be media and peers.

13. COMMON PROBLEMS
• Early marriage in girls  Increasing Population
• STIs due to unprotected sexual activity (Lack of awareness)
• Alcohol use and Substance Abuse.

14. CHALLENGES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
• The challenges for young people
• Challenging authority
• Taking risks
• Experimenting with drugs, alcohol,
and sex
• Challenging the moral and social
structure of society
• Demanding rights
• Taking responsibility for self and
others
• Seeking spiritual paths (organised or
cult religions)
• Getting a job
• Changing schools and educational
environment
• Developing relationships
• Understanding sexuality
• Renegotiating rules at home

15. SEXUAL HEALTH IMPLICATIONS
• Reproductive tract infections
• Sexually transmitted infections
• Pregnancy
• Sexual abuse
• Early sexual involvement
• Criminal abortions
• Menstrual disorders

16. NUTRITIONAL HEALTH
• The fastest growth periods of a
person's life.
• Nutritional health during
adolescence
• important for supporting the
growing body
• for preventing future health
problems.

17. HEALTH ISSUES WITH NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES
• Dieting/ Obesity
• Anemia
• Hormonal imbalances
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Self-esteem issues
• Anxiety
• Protein deficiency
• Social problems

18. CHANGES IN SOCIAL AND SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR
Adolescence is characterized
by conflicts of values,
emotional stress and readiness
to extreme attitudes, which
invariably leads to several
psycho-social problems of
adolescents.

19. SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
• Concerned about social graces, grooming, and being liked by peers.
• Moving away from dependency on parents to dependency on opinions of peers.
• Becoming interested in activities that involve boys and girls.
• Strong desire for status in their peer group.
• Interested in coeducational activities. Dating increases.
• Often want adult leadership roles.
• Want to belong to a group, but also want to be recognized as unique individuals.

20. EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
• What emotional characteristics do you see in
teenagers?
• Are there any physical or social factors that affect
the emotions of teens?

21. EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
• Can be painfully self-conscious and critical. Vulnerable to bouts of low
self-esteem.
• Changes in hormones and thinking contribute to mood swings.
• Desire independence, yet need their parents' help.
• Feelings of inferiority and inadequacy are common.
• Gaining independence and developing firm individual identity.

22. COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

23. COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IMPLICATIONS
• Teen brains are still maturing.
• Communications pathways between lower and
higher brain functions aren’t fully developed yet.
• Teens more likely to react on instinct than process information.
• Judgment and analytical skills are still developing:
• Teens are not “miniature adults.”
• Teens cannot be expected to make adult decisions.
• Teens may often not react the way we expect.

24. ADOLESCENT ISSUES FOR COUNSELING
• School Avoidance
• Separation Anxiety
• Coping With Chronic Illness
• Building Social Competence
• Managing Powerful Peer
Personalities
• Minimizing Family Conflict
• Working Through Divorce &
Separation
• Avoiding Drug & Alcohol Use
• Transitioning - High School to
College
• Accepting Imperfection
• Building Friendships

25. MENTAL DISORDERS
• Conduct and behavioural disorders
• Learning disorders
• Anxiety disorders
• Teen depression- risk of suicide
• Juvenile delinquency
• Adjustment problems

26. DELINQUENCY PREVENTION
• Broad term for all efforts aimed at preventing youth
from becoming involved in criminal, or other antisocial,
activity.
• CHILD GUIDANCE CLINIC
• Prevention services include activities :-
• substance abuse education and treatment, family
counseling, youth mentoring,
• parenting education, educational support, and youth
sheltering.

27. COMMUNICATING & WORKING WITH
ADOLESCENTS

28. HEADSS PROTOCOL

29. THE ELDERLY POPULATION

30. PHYSICAL HEALTH VS MENTAL HEALTH
Physical and mental health affect each other.
• For example, older adults with medical problems such as heart disease have
higher rates of depression than those who are medically well. Conversely,
untreated depression in an older person with heart disease negatively affects the
outcome of the disease.

31. ACTIVITY
• Think of an aging family member or friend.
• What kind of changed do you think he or she is
experiencing?

32. COMMON ADJUSTMENTS WHICH OCCUR WITH
AGING
• Family changes: The family unit is a major source of satisfaction for older adults
as they enjoy the love, companionship, and achievement of spouse, children, and
grandchildren. Their role within the family has changed multiple times in their
lifetime. In old age they are cared for by their children versus the other way
around.
• Retirement: This can be a difficult time because our society places so much
emphasis on what a person does. Often one’s work gives social position and
influence, is a source of social contacts, and provides a feeling of satisfaction from
productivity.

33. COMMON ADJUSTMENTS WHICH OCCUR WITH
AGING
• Awareness of one’s own mortality: Not only do spouses die—but friends do
also. Older adults may also experience health decline. Often, older adults review
the significance of their life through reminiscences. They love to tell stories of life
events. They need to be encouraged to tell stories. They often are faced with
multiple losses at one time.
• Widowhood: This affects more women than men, as women tend to live longer.
Adjusting to the loss of someone you have shared life with is often difficult. Many
older women have lived family-oriented lives and have been dependent on their
husbands. They find themselves in new roles—such as financial manager—that
they need to learn.

34. COMMON ADJUSTMENTS WHICH OCCUR WITH
AGING
• Declining physical reserves: As all of us age, the wear and tear on our bodies causes changes
to occur. Fatigue sets in. Our responses become slower, and our appearance changes. Chronic
illness affects body systems. The fear of loss of independence is great. Being independent is a
strong value for most.
• Changes in income: Often retirement income is less than half the income earned when the
person was fully employed. Social security income for many is the main source of income. If a
spouse dies, the income is usually further decreased. This decrease can cause significant
adjustments in a person’s social and leisure activities.
• Shrinking social world for some: Loneliness commonly occurs as a spouse or friend becomes
ill or dies. Children and grandchildren are often very busy and may live at a distance. Often older
adults choose not to drive—further limiting their socializing. Senses, such as hearing and seeing,
diminish, making communication difficult.

35. COMMON MENTAL ILLNESSES
• Severe cognitive impairment or dementia., particularly caused by
Alzheimer’s disease.
• Untreated Depression and mood disorders.
• Anxiety disorders encompass a range of issues, from obsessive-
compulsive disorder (including hoarding syndrome) to phobias to
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

36. CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS FOR SENIOR MENTAL
ILLNESS
• Physical disability
• Long-term illness (e.g., heart disease or cancer)
• Dementia-causing illness (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease)
• Physical illnesses that can affect thought, memory, and emotion (e.g. thyroid or adrenal disease)
• Change of environment, like moving into assisted living
• Illness or loss of a loved one
• Medication interactions
• Alcohol or substance abuse
• Poor diet or malnutrition

37. CLINICAL MANAGEMENT
• Biological Management
• Address disabilities
• Treat chronic illnesses.
• Pharmacological intervention
• Psychosocial management
• Behavioral management/therapy
• Counselling for Patient
• Psychoeducation for family
• Capacity assessment.
• End-of-life care

38. CLASS ASSIGNMENT
• Impact of illness on a patient‘s psychological well being including
the ability to cope and understand the association between
psychological stress and physical well being
• Role of doctor in patient reassurance and allaying anxiety and fear.