Adolescence, adulthood and ageing

Abstract

After studying this chapter you should be able to: describe the physical changes that take place during adolescence and early, middle and late adulthood identify the different health risks that apply over the periods of early, middle and late adulthood describe the cognitive changes that occur during adolescence and early, middle and late adulthood discuss the influence of culture and social norms on cognitive development discuss identity development during adolescence describe the influence of the community, family and peers on adolescent development discuss the intersection of gender and sexuality during adolescence describe risk behaviours and their impact on adolescent development describe and discuss the main South African social, environmental and economic challenges that impact upon and constrain adult development discuss the scope and impact of the epidemic of violence on South African men and women discuss the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on the familial and economic roles of older South African adults. CASE STUDY Yolisa was in a taxi on her way back from visiting her cousin, Vuyisa, who was in prison. She thought he had looked so vulnerable and confused, and she couldn't help thinking that at heart he was just a young man, yet he looked like he had a world of trouble on his shoulders. She remembered when he was a teenager and how he had to take responsibility for his whole family once his father died and left his unemployed and sickly mother with five young children to care for. It was no wonder that he had turned to crime, stealing food at first to help provide meals for the family. Petty crime had led to bigger things, and eventually to jail. Looking back on her own adolescent years, Yolisa realised that she had been very lucky to have parents who had made it possible for her to experience the joy of youth. Her parents had been very strict, and the typical adolescent dangers of drugs and sex had seemed far away. At the time she had resented this and imagined her friends to be having so much more fun than she was. But now she was grateful that she had been protected in this way. She felt absolutely sure that this was why she was where she was today: a first-year university student with a bright future ahead of her. When Yolisa first heard that they would be discussing adulthood and ageing in class, she felt a little disappointed. Perhaps this section would be less interesting and less relevant to her own life than the material they had covered in the course so far. But after reading a little on the subject, Yolisa found her thoughts turning to her grandmother who lived out in the rural areas with her mother's sister. She only saw her about once a year but 'Gogo' was still a very important figure in her family's life. Having respect for older people was something her mother had impressed on her right from when she was a young child. Yolisa tried to imagine herself being old, and she wondered what it might be like to know that one was approaching the end of one's life. She hoped that she would have lived a good and interesting life by the time she got to that point. She also hoped she would have some people around who loved her.