ADOLESCENCE YOUNG ADULTHOOD MIDDLE AGED ADULT

(12-19 YEARS OLD) (20-40 YEARS OLD) (41- 64 YEARS OF AGE)

• the stage of adolescence marks the transition • The transition from adolescence to becoming a young • just as adolescence is the link between childhood and
from childhood to adulthood adult has been termed “emerging adulthood”. adulthood, midlife is the transition period between
young adulthood and older adulthood
• During this prolonged and very change-filled • Young adulthood is a time for establishing long term,
period of time, many adolescents experience intimate relationships with other people. Choosing a • Many individuals are highly accomplished in their
much turmoil lifestyle and adjusting to it, deciding on an occupation, careers
• Adolescents are one of the most at risk and managing a home and family
population • Their sense of who they are is well developed, their
• All of these decisions lead to changes in the lives of children are grown and they have time to share their
• Adolescents vary greatly in their biological, young adults that can be a potential source of stress talents, serve as mentors to others and pursue latent
psychological, social and cognitive interest
development • during this period, physical abilities for most adults are
at their peak • It is a time for them to reflect on the contributions
• From a physical maturation standpoint, they they have made to family and society
must adapt to rapid, dramatic and significant • The body is at optimal functioning
bodily changes • During this stage of maturation, a number of
• Cognitive capacity is fully developed, but with physiological stages begin to take place
• adolescents have a higher order level of maturation, they continue to accumulate new
reasoning superior to earlier childhood knowledge and skills • Skin and muscle tone decreases, metabolism slows
thoughts down, body weigh tends to increase, endurance and
• Erikson describes the young adults psychosocial energy level lessens, hormonal changes bring about a
• They are now capable of abstract thoughts development as intimacy vs isolation variety of symptoms, hearing and visual acuity start to
diminish
• Adolescents are able to understand the • They are now working to maintain the independence
concept of health and illness, the multiple and self-sufficiency they worked to obtain in • All these things affect the middle aged adults self-
causes of diseases, health promotion and adolescence image, ability to learn and motivation about health
disease prevention promotion
• Crucial decisions in marriage, career, parenthood and • the ability to learn from a cognitive standpoint
• They can also identify health behaviors but higher education are vital remains a steady state at this stage
may reject practicing them or begin to engage
in risk taking behaviors because of social • For many adults, the accumulation of life experiences
pressures and their prove record of accomplishments often
• Erikson has identified the social dilemna the allow them to come to the teaching-learning
adolescents fae as one of “ identity vs role situations with confidence
 confusion” • However, if their past experiences with learning were
minimal or no positive, their motivation would be
• Adolescents fund themselves in a struggle to likely not enough to facilitate learning
establish their own identity, match their skills
and career choices and determine their self
• Hearing and visual changes may impede learning as
• Teenagers have a strong need for belonging to well
a group, friendship, peer
• acceptance and peer support • Erikson labeled this psychosocial stage in childhood
as Generativity vs Stagnation
• hey tend to rebel against actions by adults of
whom they consider authoritarian • Midlife marks a point at which half of their potentials
in life has spent

• Middle aged in fact, may modify some aspects of their

lives that perceive

as unsatisfactory or adopt a new lifestyle as a solution to

dissatisfaction
 ADOLESCENCE YOUNG ADULTHOOD MIDDLE AGED ADULT
(12-19 YEARS OLD) 2(0-40 YEARS OLD) (41- 64 YEARS OF AGE)
TEACHING STRATEGIES TEACHING STRATEGIES TEACHING STRATEGIES

• Use one to one instruction to ensure • young adults generally are very healthy and tend to • depending on the individual, middle aged adults may
confidentiality have limited exposure to health professionals be facing a more relaxed lifestyle or increase in stress
• young adult is a crucial period for the levels due to midlife crisis such as menopause, obvious
• Choose peer group discussion sessions as an establishment of behaviors that help the individual physical changes, responsibilities for their own
effective approach to deal with to lead healthy lives, both physically and parents health status or concern about their own lives
emotionally
• Recommended topics are smoking, alcohol, • This stage is full of teachable moment • When teaching members of this age group, we should
drug use, safety measures, sexuality opportunities be aware about their own potential source of stress,
• Health promotion is the most neglected aspect of health risk factors, and misconceptions about health
• Clarify any scientific terminology and medical healthcare teaching at this stage of life
jargon • many of the health issues related to risk factors and
stress management are important to deal with to • Those who have lived with healthy and productive
• Share decision making whenever possible help young adults establish positive health lives are often motivated to learn about health
because control is an important issue for practices for problems with illness in the future
adolescents • The major factors associated with increased risk of • the nurse should make an effort to reach out middle
death in later life, such as high blood pressure, aged adults coping with stress and maintaining
• Suggest options so that they feel they have a elevated cholesterol, obesity, smoking, over use of optimal health status
choice in course of action alcohol and drugs, and pertinent family history of
major illnesses like cancer and heart disease • Many need and want to know more about chronic
• Give rationales • Health promotion and disease prevention are illnesses that can arise in this phase of life
important topics
• Expect negative responses, which are given. • because adults are actively participating in the • Adult learners need to be reassured and
Clarify educational process, it is important for the nurse complimented on their learning competencies
educator to allow them the opportunity for mutual
• Avoid confrontation and acting like an collaboration in health education decision making
authoritative figure • Strategies include encouraging them to seek
information that expands their knowledge base
• Allow them to test their own convictions • They also tend to be self-directed, so they do well
in written patient education materials and audio
visual tools
• Other vital topics include parenting, prenatal
classes and marital adjustment