Chapter 8

Human Growthand Development

8:1 Life Stages

• Development is the process of becoming fully grown

• Health care workers need to be aware of the various stages and needs of the individual to provide quality health care

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Life Stages (continued)

• Infancy: birth to 1 year• Early childhood: 1–6 years• Late childhood: 6–12 years• Adolescence: 12–20 years• Early adulthood: 20–40 years• Middle adulthood: 40–65 years• Late adulthood: 65 years and older

Growth and Development Types

• Physical: body growth• Mental: mind development• Emotional: feelings• Social: interactions and relationships

with others• Four types above occur in each stage

Erikson’s Stages ofPsychosocial Development

• Erik Erikson was a psychoanalyst• A basic conflict or need must be met

in each stage

Infancy

• Age: birth to 1 year old• Dramatic and rapid changes• Physical development• Mental development• Emotional development• Social development• Infants are dependent on others for all

of their needs

Early Childhood

• Age: 1–6 years old• Physical development • Mental development• Emotional development• Social development• The needs of early childhood include routine,

order, and consistency

Late Childhood or Preadolescence

• Age: 6–12 years old• Physical development• Mental development• Emotional development• Social development• Children in this age group need parental

approval, reassurance, peer acceptance

Adolescence

• Age: 12–20 years old• Physical development• Mental development• Emotional development• Social development• Adolescents need reassurance, support,

and understanding

Eating Disorders

• Often develop from an excessive concern for appearance

• Anorexia nervosa• Bulimia• More common in females• Usually, psychological or psychiatric

intervention is needed to treat either of these conditions

Chemical Abuse

• Use of alcohol or drugs with the development of a physical and/or mental dependence on the chemical

• Can occur at any life stage, but frequently begins in adolescence

• Can lead to physical and mental disorders and diseases

• Treatment towards total rehabilitation

Reasons Chemicals Used

• Trying to relieve stress or anxiety• Peer pressure• Escape from either emotional or psychological

problems• Experimentation• Seeking “instant gratification”• Hereditary traits or cultural influences

Suicide

• One of the leading causes of death in adolescents

• Permanent solution to temporary problem• Impulsive nature of adolescents• Most give warning signs• Call for attention• Prevention of suicide

Reasons for Suicide

• Depression• Grief over a loss or love affair• Failure in school• Inability to meet expectations• Influence of suicidal friends or parents• Lack of self-esteem

Increased Risk of Suicide

• Family history of suicide• A major loss or disappointment• Previous suicide attempts• Recent suicide of friends, family, or role

models (heroes or idols)

Early Adulthood

• Age: 20–40 years old• Physical development• Mental development• Emotional development• Social development

Middle Adulthood (Middle Age)

• Age: 40–65 years of age• Physical development• Mental development• Emotional development• Social development

Late Adulthood• Age: 65 years of age and older• Physical development• Mental development• Emotional development• Social development• The elderly need a sense of belonging,

self-esteem, financial security, social acceptance, and love

8:2 Death and Dying

• Death is “the final stage of growth”• Experienced by everyone and no one escapes• Young people tend to ignore it and pretend it

doesn’t exist• Usually it is the elderly, who have lost others,

who begin to think about their own death

Terminal Illness

• Disease that cannot be cured and will result in death

• People react in different ways• Some patients fear the unknown while others

view death as a final peace

Research• Dr. Elizabeth Kübler-Ross was the leading

expert in the field of death and dying and because of her research– Most medical personnel now believe patients

should be informed of approaching death– Patients should be left with some hope and

know they will not be left alone

– Staff need to know extent of information known by patients

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Research(continued)

• Dr. Kübler-Ross identified five stages of grieving

• Dying patients and their families and friends may experience these stages– Stages may not occur in order– Some patients may not progress through them

all, others may experience several stages at once

Stages of Death and Dying

• Denial—refuses to believe• Anger—when no longer able to deny• Bargaining—accepts death, but wants

more time• Depression—realizes death will come soon• Acceptance—understands and accepts the

fact they are going to die

Caring for the Dying Patient

• Very challenging, but rewarding work• Supportive care• Health care worker must have self-awareness• Common to want to avoid feelings by avoiding

dying patient

Hospice Care

• Palliative care only• Often in patient’s home• Philosophy: allow patient to die with dignity

and comfort• Personal care• Volunteers• After death contact and services

Right to Die

• Ethical issues must be addressed by the health care worker

• Laws allowing “right to die”• Under these laws specific actions to end

life cannot be taken• Dying Person’s Bill of Rights

Hospice encourages LIVE promise

• Learn about end-of-life services and care• Implement plans or advanced directives to

ensure wishes are honored• Voice decisions• Engage others in conversations about end-of-

life decisions

8:3 Human Needs

• Needs: lack of something that is required or desired

• Needs exist from birth to death• Needs influence our behavior• Needs have a priority status

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Altered Physiological Needs

• Health care workers need to be aware of how illness interferes with meeting physiological needs

• Surgery or laboratory testing• Anxiety• Medications• Loss of vision or hearing

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Altered Physiological Needs(continued)

• Decreased sense of smell and taste• Deterioration of muscles and joints• Change in person’s behavior• What the health care worker can do

to assist the patient with altered needs

Meeting Needs

• Motivation to act when needs felt• Sense of satisfaction when needs met• Sense of frustration when needs not met• Must prioritize when several needs are felt at

the same time• Different needs can have different levels

of intensity

Methods for Satisfying Needs

• Direct methods– Hard work– Set realistic goals– Evaluate situation– Cooperate with others

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Methods for Satisfying Needs(continued)

• Indirect methods– Defense mechanisms-unconscious act that helps a person deal

with an unpleasant situation– Rationalization-use a reasonable excuse or acceptable

explanation to avoid a situation– Projection-place the blame on someone or something else– Displacement-take out anger or frustration on someone else

because you can’t take it out on the person who is responsible– Compensation-substitute one goal for another– Daydreaming –provides a means of escape, it can lead to goal

setting and a course of action or can be used to escape reality if the thoughts satisfy the person

Methods for Satisfying Needs(continued)

• Indirect methods (continued)– Repression-put painful situations into the

subconscious– Suppression-aware – Denial– Withdrawal

Summary

• Be aware of own needs and patient’s needs• More efficient quality care can be provided

when needs are recognized• Better understanding of our behavior and that

of others