Pubertal and Psychosocial Development: Implications for Pediatricians

Abstract

The endocrinology and somatic events of puberty have been well described, and their assessment is incorporated routinely into the evaluation of the adolescent patient. Because of the increasing collaboration between behavioral scientists and physicians who share an interest in the developing adolescent, understanding of the interactions between the physical, cognitive, and psychological experiences of this age group has grown. Examining the contextual and possible predictive implications of variations in pubertal events and their timing will help the pediatrician to guide and counsel adolescents and their parents. Findings from recent research have highlighted the salience of gender differences in the experience of puberty and in the timing of its onset and tempo as well as the importance of being earlier in maturation rather than synchronous or later than one's peers. In this article, we will consider the findings in four major domains: 1) the effect of adolescent development on family homeostasis; 2) the implications for cognitive development; 3) the implications for personality (psychological) development; and 4) the recognition of risk factors or markers for problem behavior. Pubertal Development and Family Homeostasis One of the earliest tasks of adolescence is to separate from the family emotionally in preparation for developing independence. For girls, pubertal development may be the signal to their fathers to be less physically affectionate.