YOUNG ADULT
PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
Young adults are at the peak of their physical development during this period; however, physical-biological decline occurs gradually over time. Many male adults reach their maximum height at approximately 21 years of age. They reach their peak of muscle strength at the age of 25-30. They lose 10% of their strength between the ages of 30-60.
The peak strength between the ages of 60-70 is only 80% of their strength in their 20s. Physical stamina or the ability to work for long periods of time or exercise also decrease with age. In tasks that are not very demanding, the decrease in physical endurance is slower than the decrease in muscle strength.
In addition, this decrease in physical endurance is less common in active people than in non-moving people (Schiamberg, 1985: 503-504).
In short, physical strength has reached a peak. During this period, the individual can work longer; he can lift more weight… However, this physical strength gradually decreases from the peak. This decrease starts to gain importance after the age of forties.
Reaction time; It is the time it takes to linger until an individual reacts to what he hears, smells, touches, or tastes. This period; shows a gradual increase between young adulthood and old age. Although this period is very short in children, a plateau is reached in young adulthood. Response time peaks just before the age of twenty. It increases gradually in middle age and old age (Schiamberg, 1985: 505).
The ability to communicate effectively and adapt to the environment in human interaction largely depends on the senses. All senses continue to function well at the end of this period, as they did at the beginning.
The young adult can adapt to reduced stimuli. However, older adults have difficulty with low stimulus intensity (a faint sound, a faint smell, or a little light).
Vision and visual harmony reach its highest level at the age of twenty. This age is also the age when some disabilities such as hyperopia and myopia occur. The following events are observed related to vision:
Nervous system: There is a slow decline in the functioning of the nervous system that does not become apparent until advanced age. This decline affects all behavior, including vision. It causes a slowdown in almost all functioning and processes.
Pupil size: Pupillary narrowing occurs with age. This reduces the amount of light entering the eye. For this reason, the elderly have difficulty seeing in poorly lit places.
Compliance time: The older adult also takes more time to adjust to the light than the younger adult.
Light threshold: As the eye adapts to the dark (this takes more time in the elderly), there is a decrease in the minimum visible light intensity with age. For the minimum light intensity to be seen by the adult, it must double every thirteen years after the age of twenty.
Visual acuity: Visual acuity increases in childhood and adolescence. Between the ages of 20-50, it shows stability. After the age of fifty, it shows a slow but increasing decline.
Lens fit: Muscle movements and flexibility of the eye lens allow the image to fall on the retina. Although there is little change in lens alignment in adolescence, between the ages of 20 and 50, lens flexibility decreases. After the age of 50, this decrease in lens compliance shows a more gradual decrease.
Contrast: As adults get older, they need more contrast between the subject and its background.
As a result; There is little change in vision in young adulthood. Most of the changes occur around the age of forty (Schiamberg, 1985: 504-505).
Hearing also changes very little in young adulthood. These changes are more common in men. Most of the time, hearing loss can be seen due to environmental factors such as loud noise.
During this period, there is no significant change in the senses of touch, taste and smell. In the light of all these, young adulthood period; Physically, it constitutes the peak of an individual’s life. For this reason, this period can also be called the “period of stability”.
