Aspects Of Puberty Research Articles

Pubertal timing in adolescence and adulthood: Relations among contemporaneous and retrospective measures.

Pubertal development has short- and long-term effects on psychological adjustment. Many studies of long-term effects rely on retrospective measurement of pubertal timing, but such measures often reflect different aspects of puberty than those assessed in adolescence, raising questions about the utility and interpretation of retrospective reports. The present study leveraged longitudinal data collected in adolescence and established adulthood to determine: (1) the correspondence between pubertal timing indexed from logistic growth curves of self-reported physical development assessed contemporaneously across adolescence and pubertal timing indexed relative to peers assessed retrospectively in adulthood; (2) the associations between the two pubertal timing measures and psychological adjustment; and (3) potential recall biases. Participants were 748 individuals (50.1% female; 91.6% White) from two longitudinal studies who reported on their pubertal development annually from Grades 3-9, psychological adjustment (age at sexual initiation, substance use, depression) in late adolescence, and retrospective pubertal timing in established adulthood (Mage = 32.76; SD = 4.43). Results indicate moderate-to-high convergence between retrospective and contemporaneous indices. Most participants, especially women, had the same pubertal timing classification (i.e., early, on time, or late), but early-maturing adolescents often recalled on-time development as adults. Retrospective and contemporaneous indices were associated with psychological adjustment in similar ways, with some attenuation in the retrospective measure, especially for men. There was little evidence of recall bias due to age at retrospective assessment or time since puberty. Findings generally support the use of retrospective pubertal timing measures, with the recognition that some relations with adjustment may be weakened. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Understanding puberty and its measurement: Ideas for a maturing field

Puberty is a complex developmental process involving neuroendocrine changes (e.g., hormones, brain development), physical maturity (e.g., breast development, facial hair growth), and social reorganization (e.g., new social roles and relationships). Despite robust literature on the psychological correlates of pubertal development, research is limited by (1) a narrow conceptualization of puberty, (2) a focus on single pubertal markers (e.g., onset), and (3) invasive clinical exams that may limit access to representative samples. Indeed, many aspects of pubertal development - when it begins, how quickly or slowly youth progress through puberty, and how one’s maturity is viewed by others - are central to young people’s development and their future health and wellbeing. Further, while pubertal measures can reflect many different aspects of puberty, each telling a distinct story about development, they are frequently used and understood in similar ways, often privileging the experiences of White youth (and especially, girls) over those with marginalized social identities.The goals of this symposium are to bring together three researchers who will discuss the conceptualization and measurement of puberty as well as the implications of different measurement approaches for understanding youth’s current and future health and wellbeing. In the first presentation, Niamh MacSweeney will present data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study demonstrating the sex-specific association of adrenal and gonadal pubertal timing with brain development and subsequently, depression over four years. In the second presentation, Natasha Chaku will use data from the Study of Early Childcare and Youth Development (SECCYD) to explore how different measures (i.e., Tanner stages vs. parent reports) and analytic approaches (i.e., latent growth curves vs. sex and age-related residuals) for understanding pubertal timing can impact inferences related to adolescent mental health. In the final presentation, Anne-Lise Goddings will review the state of current pubertal assessment measures, discussing limitations identified from youth, clinicians, and researchers and the development of a novel digital tool, co-developed with young people. The discussant, Lindsay Till Hoyt, will integrate the findings, highlighting the importance of considering the accuracy and meaning of different pubertal measures and how they relate to the biopsychosocial experiences of diverse youth.

Ovarian dysfunction in adolescent girls with autoimmune rheumatic diseases

ObjectiveTo explore the different menstrual and pubertal abnormalities in adolescent females with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD).MethodsThe study included adolescent girls aged 13–18 years with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE), and juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) classified according to their international classification criteria. Data were collected from our patients’ files and interpreted with respect to the demographic, clinical, disease assessment parameters, medications used, and the hormonal profile. The aspects of puberty and menstruation were assessed by a gynaecologist with ultrasound evaluation as well. The girls were classified according to their menstrual pattern into those with regular cycles versus abnormal ones. The subgroups were compared and significant variables entered into a logistic regression model to detect the independent predictors.ResultsTwenty-one girls with JSLE were included, besides 23 JIA and 8 JDM cases. Ten patients with JSLE (47.6%) had menstrual abnormalities, whereas only four JIA (17.4%) and 1 JDM girls had these alterations without significant difference between the three groups. The median of the SLICC/ACR damage index was statistically higher in JSLE with abnormal menstrual cycles, similarly were the cumulative steroid dose and puberty onset. No difference was observed between JIA or JDM subgroups concerning the disease parameters, hormonal profile, ultrasound assessment or the treatment lines. The most significant predictor for menstrual abnormalities in JSLE was the SLICC/ACR damage index.ConclusionMenstrual abnormalities is a common disturbance among adolescent girls with ARDs. The SLICC/ACR damage index is the main determinant for menstrual abnormalities rather than the cumulative steroid use or disease duration in JSLE.

Girls’ Attitude towards Menstrual Hygiene among Nursing Students at College of Nursing, AIMC, J/H, Lahore, Pakistan

Menstruation has a higher impact on educational quality than other aspects of puberty because it combines a learning component with features influenced by the school environment and infrastructure. Objective: To analyze the females' attitudes toward menstrual hygiene among Nursing students at AIMC, J/H, Lahore. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study took place between July 1st to June 30, 2022. A total of 80 study populations were selected with a purposive sampling technique. The questionnaire of this study was adopted by Doctor Funmito Omolola Fehintola. Results: More than half of the participants (52.5%) knew about menstruation before menarche, while the majority of the study population (90.2% and 96.5%, respectively) has strong knowledge and practice about menstruation. While, the majority of participants' reactions to their menarche were uncomfortable (51.2%) and emotionally distressing (41.3%). The education of parents has a significant impact on their children's conduct because they adapt to what they observe. Overall, more than two-thirds (76.8%) of the participants come from educated homes, which results in higher outcomes in our study findings. Conclusions: According to the study findings, the majority of the respondents practice good menstrual hygiene and have good knowledge about menstruation. Efforts must be made to ensure that teenagers are thoroughly educated on menstruation and the requirement of suitable hygiene practices at school and home.

Fairness for Transgender People in Sport.

Increasingly visible participation by transgender people in athletic competition has resulted in efforts to include transgender women in the women’s categories while addressing possible advantage they might have from exposure to typically male levels of testosterone. There does not seem to be any reason to expect advantage for transgender people prior to puberty of or for transgender people whose gender-affirming treatment begins at the onset of puberty. To date, the only established driver of athletic advantage in men over women is testosterone. Further, the existing literature suggests that treatment to lower testosterone may be sufficient to erase that advantage in at least some athletic activities. Whether other aspects of puberty are advantages or disadvantages in certain sports remains to be established. There is need for more research on the topic. In addition, there is a need to prioritize the need to motivate people to participate in sport for better health.

Pubertal development and problem behaviours in Indian adolescents

ABSTRACT Pubertal status refers to the current level of physical development experienced by the adolescent relative to the overall process of pubertal change. Despite the fact that these pubertal changes are universal in nature, there are individual differences with regard to the age at which specific pubertal changes occur and this is referred to as pubertal timing. Thus, the present work makes an attempt to investigate the effect of these aspects of puberty as they carry importance for both psychological and social functioning of adolescents. For this purpose, data were collected from 772 adolescents using measures of Pubertal Developmental Scale (PDS; Petersen, Crockett, Richards and Boxer (1988) and Youth Self Report (YSR). Pubertal timing but not pubertal status was found as a significant predictor of problem behaviours in adolescents and this relation was not moderated by gender.

Genetic influences on pubertal development and links to behavior problems.

Genetic influences on adolescent psychological development are likely to be mediated and moderated by pubertal hormones. Combining genetic analyses with advanced models of pubertal development, we extended work on the measurement and psychological significance of puberty. We examined how genetic and environmental influences on puberty vary by the way that development is described (logistic versus linear models versus traditional methods) and the different aspects of puberty (adrenarche vs. gonadarche), and how genes and environment contribute to the covariation between different descriptions and aspects of puberty, and between pubertal development and behavior problems (substance use, age at sexual initiation). We also considered how puberty moderated the heritability of psychological outcomes (internalizing and externalizing problems), and sex differences. Participants from the Colorado Longitudinal Twin Study (403 girls, 395 boys) reported their pubertal development annually from ages 9 through 15; they and their parents reported their behavior in mid-to-late adolescence. There was a large genetic contribution to pubertal timing for both sexes no matter how it was measured, but findings for pubertal tempo varied by method. Genetic covariation accounted for most of the phenotypic correlations among different indicators of pubertal timing, and between pubertal timing and psychological outcome. We consider the implications of our results for understanding how pubertal hormones mediate or moderate genetic and environmental influences on psychological development.

Having Children after Surviving Cancer in Childhood or Adolescence - Results of a Berlin Survey

To assess the desire to have children, the actual number of children, and children's health in a survey of 752 adult survivors of paediatric or adolescent cancer in Berlin, Germany. The German Childhood Cancer Registry ( Deutsches Kinderkrebsregister, DKKR) listed 752 paediatric cancer patients who had been treated in 1 of the 2 paediatric oncology centres in Berlin since 1980 and were 18 years of age or older at the time of the survey. A 4-page questionnaire assessing pubertal development, fertility, the desire to have children, the actual number of children, and children's health was sent to 574 former patients located using data from the DKKR and German Residents' Registration Office. In total, 45% (n=260) of patients (140 women, 120 men) returned the questionnaire. The mean age was 10.9 years at the time of diagnosis and 24.3 years at the time of the present survey. Various aspects of puberty were assessed to evaluate pubertal development. Of all study participants, 77% indicated a general desire to have children. Reasons given for not having children included 'Still too early to have children' (67%), 'Fear that my child will develop cancer' (9%), and 'Fear that cancer will recur' (6%). Transient amenorrhoea, lasting from 1 to 30 months, occurred in 25 of 74 patients after chemo- and radiotherapy. Five of 136 participants indicated that they had already reached menopause. Seventeen per cent of all participants or their partners had already been pregnant. The miscarriage rate was 13%. Thirty participants gave birth to or fathered a total of 41 children, of whom 40 were healthy and 1 was born with a foot deformity (Pes equinovarus). Among participants' children, mean weight at birth was 3 458 g, and mean head circumference was 35 cm. The desire to have children was lower among our survey participants than in the general population of the same age (77% vs. 90%). Participants' fears that their children might develop cancer or that their own cancer might recur are often unfounded. Paediatric cancer survivors, relatives, and attending physicians should be well informed about this issue by paediatric oncologists. The proportion of miscarriages, mean weight at birth, and mean head circumference at birth in our study were comparable to the German general population. We intend to conduct a nationwide survey entitled 'Fertility after Chemo- and Radiotherapy in Paediatric and Adolescent Patients' (FeCt). The aim is to gain valuable data with a larger number of participants and more statistical power to determine whether specific cytotoxic drugs or radiation increase the risk of infertility, and if so, at what doses. For the study, the DKKR has the addresses of more than 5 000 former patients in Germany who are now adults. The results will be used to plan future treatment optimisation studies, and to assess the need for prophylactic measures in cases where fertility-compromising therapies are unavoidable. This nationwide survey 'FeCt' will be supported by the Deutsche Kinderkrebsstiftung.

Henriette A. Delamarre-van de Waal (ed): Abnormalities in puberty. Scientific and clinical advances

This book of 180 pages was edited as one of the issues in the series “Endocrine Development”. The eleven chapters present various aspects of puberty, from very general to highly specialized information. On more general aspects of the whole process of pubertal maturation, many interesting findings are described and documented. The secular trend towards earlier onset of puberty and increased adult height, which occurred during the past century, seems to slow down, according to recent studies. Of interest for the general paediatrician are also observations from the United States on girls with very early onset of puberty. Despite this early onset, the whole period of pubertal maturation is not terminated earlier, arguing for a slowing of the process. An interesting hypothesis concerning the cause of earlier onset in girls with overweight is related to the fact that estrogens are stored in fat tissue. Increased fat mass might therefore contribute to an earlier onset of pubertal maturation. In the more specialized information, new data on normal and abnormal pubertal development related to prematurity, intrauterine growth retardation, nutrition, and bone growth and mineralization are presented underlining once more the importance of events in childhood for diseases of the adult. One chapter is devoted to present and future options for the preservation of fertility in female adolescents with cancer. The necessity to address these problems has grown with increased long term survival of these patients. Although there are no simple and good solutions today, different ways of trying to improve techniques are discussed. Taken together, this book provides a very interesting issue on a period of life which is of special interest to any paediatrician. S.S. Eur J Pediatr (2007) 166:1309 DOI 10.1007/s00431-007-0456-5

Pubertal maturation and the development of alcohol use and abuse

Objective To examine the impact of various aspects of puberty on risk of using alcohol and developing alcohol use disorder (AUD). Methods Data come from the Great Smoky Mountains Study, a longitudinal study of a representative sample of 1420 youth aged 9–13 at recruitment. Participants were interviewed annually to age 16. A parent was also interviewed. Information was obtained about use of a range of drugs including alcohol, drug abuse and dependence, other psychiatric disorders, life events, and a wide range of family characteristics. Pubertal hormones were assayed annually from blood samples, and morphological development was assessed using a pictorial measure of Tanner stage. Results Controlling for age, Tanner stage predicted alcohol use and AUD in both boys (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.18–2.22) and girls (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.17–2.23). The effect of morphological development was strongest in those who matured early. Early pubertal maturation predicted alcohol use in both sexes, and AUD in girls. The highest level of excess risk for alcohol use was seen in early maturing youth with conduct disorder and deviant peers. Lax supervision predicted alcohol use in early maturing girls, while poverty and family problems were predictive in early maturing boys. Conclusions Among the many biological, morphological, and social markers of increasing maturation, the visible signs of maturity are important triggers of alcohol use and AUD, especially when they occur early and in young people with conduct problems, deviant peers, problem families and inadequate parental supervision.

Situation of Girl Child in Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh

The present study focuses on analyzing the situation of girl child in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh with regard to their educational status economic and social aspects household responsibilities marriage health and aspects of puberty. A sample of 253 school going girls of age 12 to 17 years were identified from nine villages from two blocks of Kangra district. Focus group discussions were held with the girls and data was analyzed though percentages. The results revealed a better schooling status with most of the girls placing high value on education. They were interested in taking up skill-oriented training in different areas. They were supposed to behave in an approved manner were restricted to interact with members of opposite sex and were unaware of the various legal rights pertaining to girls and women. A lot of time was spent on household and farm activities. Discrimination in feeding practices was observed as the girls were denied of various kinds of foods. They did not have any choice in mate selection. The girls faced various kinds of health problems during puberty but did not take any remedial measures. (authors)

Puberty in teleosts

Puberty is the process by which animals acquire for the first time the ability to reproduce. In teleost fishes, an understanding of the mechanism underlying pubertal development is important not only for basic science but also for aquaculture. In this article, recent progress in several aspects of puberty in teleosts is reviewed; namely, pubertal changes in brain-pituitary-gonad axis, factors controlling the timing of the onset of puberty, and artificial control of puberty. In addition, possible future directions of study are suggested.

Knowledge about Puberty and Sexual Development in 11‐16 Year‐olds: implications for health and sex education in schools

Summary Knowledge is an important but largely neglected variable in sex education research. This study aimed to develop a measure to assess young people's knowledge about puberty and sexual development, and to examine knowledge in relation to age, gender and school. The main results of the study were that knowledge increased more between age 11/12 and 13/14 than between 13/14 and 15/16, girls knew more than boys at every age, and there were few differences in knowledge between the four schools involved in the study. The research has a number of implications for sex education in schools. First, it was found that even by age 15‐16 some young people lack information which is essential if they are to avoid unwanted pregnancy. Second, it may be that boys and girls need to be taught separately to enable the different needs of each gender to be addressed. Third, young people know more about some aspects of puberty and sexual development than others, and there are particular times when knowledge develops most rapidly. Giving teachers this information could help them to target areas of particular ignorance. The questionnaire developed to assess knowledge proved to be accurate and reliable, and a measure that is straightforward to score and analyse. As such, it has considerable potential for use in the classroom.

Teaching about Puberty: Learning to Talk about Sensitive Topics

A small-group exercise was developed to allow students to discuss affective and cognitive aspects of puberty. Students were requested to write a group letter to a male and female child explaining the changes each child would encounter during puberty. Pretest–posttest results showed that students' knowledge about pubertal issues increased. In addition, students reported feeling more comfortable in discussing puberty with members of both sexes. This teaching exercise could be helpful to persons teaching courses in developmental psychology.

Genetic aspects of puberty and sexual differentiation: a study of twins

Genetic aspects of puberty and sexual differentiation: a study of twins

HEMATOCOLPOS DUE TO IMPERFORATE HYMEN

Puberty as a field for specialized study has received scant attention. The amount of available clinical data applicable to this important period of life is decidedly small in comparison with the corresponding advances in other fields of medicine. The overlapping between the specialties of internal medicine and pediatrics during these years has retarded the development of intensive study of this period by either group, and this age period has been aptly called a no man's land. The pediatrician is particularly well adapted to assume responsibility in dealing with the problems of the adolescent child as he knows the entire previous background of the child. It therefore is fitting that he should acquaint himself better with the various aspects of puberty. With these ideas in mind, we take the privilege of calling to the attention of pediatricians a condition more familiar to gynecologists, namely, hematocolpos due to imperforate hymen. The onset