Discussion

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Pubertal Timing and Tempo: Associations with Friends’ Behavior in Early and Middle AdolescenceCatherine Thompson1, Meredith Henry2, Sylvie Mrug21Samford University2University of Alabama at Birmingham Acknowledgement &Contact information Catherine Thompson Samford University Email: cthomps1@samford.edu Phone: (256) 682-7571 References Results Conclusion Discussion Introduction Data Analysis Measures continued Methods Measures • Early timing and faster tempo of pubertal development are associated with externalizing and internalizing problems (Marceau et al., 2011; Negriff et al., 2011). • Some of these problems may be due to early maturing youth forming friendships with more deviant peers (Lynne et al., 2007). • Several studies have shown that early maturing youth describe friends with higher levels of delinquent and rule-breaking behavior (Caspi et al., 1993; Ge et al., 1996, 2002). • It is unknown whether pubertal timing is related to friends’ prosocial behavior. • Additionally, no studies have addressed whether pubertal tempo (i.e., how fast children progress through puberty) also relates to peer behavior. • It is possible that faster maturing youth select older, more deviant friends, or that they select more prosocial friends. • The roles of pubertal timing and tempo in friends’ behavior may also vary as a function of gender and age. • The current study examines associations of pubertal timing and tempo with deviant and prosocial friends’ behavior among girls and boys from early to middle adolescence. • Pubertal development: • Pubertal development was assessed by trained nurses annually from ages 9 to 15. • Pubertal timing and tempo were estimated over time from logistic growth models of the five Tanner stages measuring pubic hair and breast/penis and scrotum development (Marceau et al., 2011). • Pubertal timing indicates the predicted age at which an individual will • achieve Tanner Stage 3. • Pubertal tempo indicates the speed with which an individual progresses from Stage 1 to Stage 5 (reported as stages completed per year). • Pubertal development was related to friends’ behavior in early adolescence for females but in middle adolescence for males. • This likely reflects the earlier onset of puberty among girls and later onset among boys. • Developmental differences suggest that early maturing girls’ tendency to select more deviant friends may reverse over time. • Faster pubertal tempo was associated with more prosocial friends’ behavior among both boys and girls, although at different ages. • This may reflect a tendency of greater psychosocial maturity for faster maturing youth. • Overall, the results suggest that puberty-related peer characteristics are developmentally specific and likely transient over time. • Multiple linear regression analyses were run in SPSS. • Analyses were run separately for males and females. • Peer behavior at ages 11, 12 and 15 were dependent variables. • Step 1: Race, SES, Single-Parent • Step 2: Pubertal Timing, Pubertal Rate • Gender differences within the relationship between pubertal timing/tempo and friends’ behavior at ages 11, 12, and 15 proved to be significant. • As children progress from childhood to adolescence, peer group selection is an ever increasing influence in the child’s development. • Further research in this area may help to distinguish the relationship between child biological processes and social competencies. • This relationship may be particularly important as it applies to moral behavior and attitudes towards school and academic achievement. • NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. • 951 children followed from birth to age 15 • 50% female • 80% Caucasian • 13% African American • 7% Other Descriptive Statistics: • Adolescents reached Tanner stage 3 at mean age 12.43 (SD=.93). • On average, they completed 1.06 stages a year (SD=.19). • At age 11, boys reported an average positive social network score of 17.61and girls reported an average positive social network score of 17.38. • At age 12, boys reported an average total positive peer group score of 61.71 and girls reported an average total positive peer group score of 61.62. • At age 15, boys reported an average total positive peer group score of 57.35 and girls reported an average total positive peer group score of 57.08. (Better as table???) Multiple Regression: • Results indicated that at age 11, early maturing girls reported lower prosocial behavior among their friends (β=.12, p<.05). • At age 12, there was a trend for both early and faster maturing girls to report more prosocial friends’ behavior (β =-10 and .10, p<.06) • At age 15, faster maturing males reported less deviant friends’ behavior (β =.12, p<.05), as well as more prosocial friends’ behavior (β =.12, p<.05). • Caspi A, Lynam D, Moffitt T, Silva P. Unraveling girls' delinquency: biological, dispositional, and contextual contributions to adolescent misbehavior. American Psychological Association. 1993;29(1):19-30. • Marceau K, Ram N, Houts R, Grimm K, Susman E. Individual differences in boys' and girls' timing and tempo of puberty: modeling development with nonlinear growth models. American Psychological Association. 2011;47(5):1389-1409. • Mrug S, Elliott M, Gilliland J, Grunbaum J, Tortolero S, Cuccaro P, et al. Positive parenting and early puberty in girls: protective effects against aggressive behavior. American Medical Association. 2008;162(8), 781-786. • Ge X, Brody GH, Conger RD, Simons RL, Murry VM. Contextual amplification of pubertal transition effects on deviant peer affiliation and externalizing behavior among African American children. Dev Psychol. 2002;38(1):42-54. • Lynne SD, Graber JA, Nichols TR, Brooks-Gunn J, Botvin GJ. Links between pubertal timing, peer influences, and externalizing behaviors among urban students followed through middle school. J Adolesc Health. 2007;40(2):181. • Negriff S, Susman EJ. Pubertal timing, depression, and externalizing problems: A framework, review, and examination of gender differences. Journal of Research in Adolescence. 2011. • Social Network Questionnaire: • Reports child and adolescent perceptions of the positive and negative characteristics of their own peer group. • Children reported on their friends’ behavior at ages 11, 12 and 15. • Assessed five individual constructs. • Positive Social Network (Grade 5/6) • Negative Social Network (Grade 5/6) • Peer Group Moral Behavior (Age 15) • Peer Group Academic Orientation (Age 15) • Total Positive Peer Group (Age 15)