Effects of Puberty on Mental Health

Introduction

Human life basically revolves around physical, mental, and social health. All of these are interlinked and crucial in building an individual’s life and personality. Maintaining good physical, mental, and social health can help lead a quality life that is free of diseases. Health problems in the above-mentioned areas can drastically impact the growth of an individual. Hence, it is important to take necessary measures to improve different aspects of health.

During puberty, an individual undergoes enormous changes in physical and mental health. Some changes could be acceptable, while others could make the individual hesitant. Irrespective of the change, coping with puberty is a big challenge for many teenagers. Since it is a vulnerable phase of life, teenagers may experience body image issues and a variety of emotions that could have a great impact on their lives and affect their growth. This article addresses the effects of mental health during puberty.

What Is Mental Health?

Mental health primarily comprises the emotional and social well-being of an individual. It influences an individual’s behavior, the way they feel and act. Mental health is instrumental in determining an individual’s capability to handle stress and make life choices. Mental health plays a crucial role at every stage of an individual's life. These changes are observed from childhood to adolescence as an individual grows.

Mental health issues can directly affect the capacity to think, behave, and the mood of an individual. Several factors contribute to an individual’s mental health issue which are listed below

• Defective genes.

• Brain chemistry.

• History of mental health problems in the family.

Why Is Mental Health Important?

The overall well-being of an individual completely depends on their mental health. The right mindset helps overcome any obstacle and face challenges confidently. People are constantly under the influence of emotions in different circumstances, but anyone with strong mental health can overcome the emotions and make decisions with clarity, even when they are under extreme stress. Good mental health can help individuals cope better with life's changes and make meaningful contributions to society. It also helps them enjoy relationships with other people. Other reasons that state the importance of mental health are listed below:

• Mental health and physical health are closely linked. A stronger mental health can reduce the risk of physical health like diabetes and obesity.

• Mental health helps build quality relationships with family and friends. It enables us to communicate effectively and show empathy toward others' feelings. This ultimately improves the communication and expression of feelings in the best ways possible.

• Workplace productivity is majorly influenced by an individual’s mental health. It helps bounce back from the setbacks of life and develop resilience to various situations.

• Quality of life is directly proportional to the individual’s mental health. Prioritizing mental health and seeking help whenever required can help lead a happy and healthy life.

What Is Puberty?

Puberty is the change undergone by both boys and girls between the ages of 12 to 16 and 10 to 14 respectively. During this period, an individual becomes sexually mature, which causes physical and mental changes that affect them differently. It marks the transition from childhood to adulthood and can be characterized by multiple changes occurring during the time span.

What Are the Changes That Occur During Puberty?

Some of the changes occurring in girls are listed below:

• In girls there is development of breast tissue.

• Growth of hair in the pubic area and armpits.

• Commencement of menstrual cycle.

Some of the changes occurring in boys are mentioned below:

• Growth of penis.

• Voice deepens.

• Facial hair starts to develop.

• Muscle growth.

• Hair growth in pubic area and armpit.

Both boys and girls undergo rapid growth in height during this period, which is commonly referred to as growth spurt. If an individual experiences rare pubertal changes, it is called precocious puberty, and if the onset of puberty starts very late, it is called delayed puberty.

What Are the Effects of Puberty on Mental Health?

A complex biological process that occurs during adolescence and brings significant changes in the physical, emotional, and social development of an individual is called puberty. Each individual may experience different changes during puberty. The positive effects of puberty on mental health are mentioned in detail below.

• There is an increased self-awareness and self-esteem in individuals during puberty. This helps best understand themselves. It helps to boost their confidence.

• Puberty helps an individual adopt coping skills and develop resilience that is extremely helpful in various situations and challenges faced during life.

• Some individuals may develop greater emotional sensitivity during puberty, which could add more meaning to any relationship.

Despite the positive effects, there are also negative effects that an individual may face during puberty, some of which are mentioned below

• Puberty may increase the risk of anxiety and depression in most individuals. It causes frequent mood swings, emotional fluctuations, and behavioral changes.

• Physical changes occurring during puberty could be a common concern for most individuals. Development of breast tissue could feel uncomfortable and result in body image issues for most girls. This could result in eating disorders and harmful behavior to cope with the condition.

Puberty's effect on mental health could vary in each individual depending on the circumstances of their upbringing and social influence. Support from family and friends could be helpful in navigating through the problems faced during puberty. It also helps with the positive emergence of oneself and stronger mental health. In addition, taking help from mental health professionals could be great guidance in understanding and evolving during puberty as this phase demands a lot of changes.

Conclusion

Every individual undergoes changes during puberty that may impact mental health in both positive and negative ways. Understanding puberty is challenging, as it is a sudden change in the process. Puberty plays an important role in the sexual development and mental health of an individual. Extending adequate and appropriate moral and emotional support could be very helpful and bring about acceptance of those unexpected changes. Prioritizing mental health could help the individual build better relationships.