Basic 5 · Our World and Our People · Myself
Changes During Adolescence: Emotional and Social Changes
In this topic you will describe the emotional and social changes during adolescence and learn how to manage them and stay healthy.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Describe emotional and social changes during adolescence
- Explain good personal hygiene for adolescents
- Suggest healthy ways to manage these changes
What you already know
- Physical changes during adolescence
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
- Strand
- All About Us
- Sub-strand
- Myself
- Indicator
- B5.1.2.1.1 – Describe changes that occur during adolescence
Introduction
Adolescence changes not only the body but also the mind and feelings. One moment an adolescent may feel happy, and the next moment sad or angry. Understanding these changes helps you manage them well.
1. Emotional Changes
| Change | Example |
|---|---|
| mood swings | feeling happy and then suddenly sad or irritable |
| wanting independence | wanting to make own decisions |
| worry about appearance | spending a long time in front of the mirror |
| strong feelings | getting angry or upset more easily |
| attraction to others | developing feelings for the opposite sex |
| shyness or self-consciousness | feeling that everyone is watching you |
2. Social Changes
Adolescents often spend more time with friends and care a lot about what their friends think. They may want more privacy and independence from parents. They begin to take on more responsibilities at home and in school. They start to think about their future careers. These changes are part of growing into an adult.
3. Personal Hygiene in Adolescence
- Bathe at least twice a day with soap, especially after sports.
- Wash the armpits and private parts well and change underwear daily.
- Use deodorant or powder if needed.
- Wash your face to reduce pimples, and do not squeeze them.
- Brush your teeth twice a day.
- Girls should change sanitary pads regularly and dispose of them properly.
- Wear clean, ironed clothes.
4. Managing Adolescent Changes
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| feeling sad or angry | talk to a trusted adult; take deep breaths; go for a walk |
| worried about body changes | ask a parent, teacher or nurse |
| pressure to have sex | say no; abstinence protects you from pregnancy and diseases |
| wanting independence | discuss calmly with parents; show you are responsible |
| feeling shy | join clubs and activities to build confidence |
Adolescents should eat a balanced diet, exercise, get enough sleep (about 9 hours) and avoid alcohol, smoking and drugs. Abstinence from sex is the best choice for adolescents because it prevents teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, and allows you to finish your education.
New words
- emotions
- Feelings such as joy, anger and fear.
- mood swings
- Quick changes in feelings.
- independence
- Being able to act on one's own.
- personal hygiene
- Keeping the body clean.
- abstinence
- Choosing not to have sex.
- self-conscious
- Worried about what others think of you.
Summary
- Adolescents experience mood swings and want independence.
- Friends become more important during adolescence.
- Good personal hygiene is very important.
- Talking to trusted adults and abstinence help adolescents stay safe.
Class activity: Advice Column
- Your teacher reads a letter from a worried adolescent.
- Write a helpful reply giving advice.
- Read your reply to the class.
You need: Hand mirror, Printed photographs of Ghanaian children, Adolescents, Manila paper
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Quick changes in feelings are called…
- A. mood swings
- B. growth spurt
- C. hygiene
- D. puberty
Show answer
Answer: mood swingsCommon in adolescence.2. The best way to avoid teenage pregnancy is…
- A. abstinence
- B. staying late out
- C. ignoring advice
- D. skipping school
Show answer
Answer: abstinenceChoosing not to have sex.3. How often should an adolescent bathe?
- A. At least twice a day
- B. Once a week
- C. Once a month
- D. Never
Show answer
Answer: At least twice a dayMore sweating occurs.4. Talking to a trusted adult can help with worries.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueThey can give advice.5. Squeezing pimples makes them heal faster.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseIt can cause infection and scars.6. Keeping the body clean is called personal ______.
Show answer
Answer: hygieneIt prevents body odour.7. State two emotional changes during adolescence.
Show answer
Answer: Mood swings and wanting independence (or worry about appearance).Any two.8. Give two reasons why abstinence is good for adolescents.
Show answer
Answer: It prevents teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, and helps them finish school.Any two.
Homework
- Make a personal hygiene checklist and tick it every day for a week.