Premium
Putting pubertal timing in developmental context: Implications for prevention
Author(s) -
Graber Julia A.,
Nichols Tracy R.,
BrooksGunn Jeanne
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
developmental psychobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1098-2302
pISSN - 0012-1630
DOI - 10.1002/dev.20438
Subject(s) - intervention (counseling) , psychology , developmental psychology , context (archaeology) , adolescent development , early adulthood , explanatory model , young adult , psychiatry , biology , paleontology , philosophy , epistemology
This article examines selected findings regarding the consequences of difference in timing of pubertal onset in order to build an explanatory model of puberty in context. We also seek to shed light on possible prevention efforts targeting adolescent risk. To date, there is substantial evidence supporting early onset effects on both internalizing and externalizing problems during the adolescent decade and possibly beyond. However, such effects do not directly speak to preventive intervention. The biological, familial, and broader relationship contexts of puberty are considered along with unique contexts for early maturing girls versus boys. Finally, we identify potential strategies for intervention based on these explanatory models. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 52: 254–262, 2010