Though often discussed as though it were a discrete event, puberty comprises one segment of a larger developmental continuum and is notable for rapid transformation across a multitude of domains. Research suggests that an earlier rate of pubertal maturation in girls correlates with a number of detrimental outcomes compared with on-time or later maturation. The present review synthesizes the research on negative psychological sequelae of early pubertal timing in adolescent girls. Emphasis is on three theoretical perspectives by which precocious development is believed to affect the emergence of adverse outcomes: biological, psychosocial, and selection effects.
Consequences of early pubertal timing
As a developmental milestone, puberty is notable for its rapid and near-simultaneous transformation across biological, social, and psychological domains. As physical appearance matures, individuals must navigate changing social norms and expectations. This often necessitates a confrontation and, perhaps, reorganization of identity and self-perception. Aberrance in maturational timing seems to increase risk for emotional and behavioral problems during adolescence and early adulthood (Peterson & Taylor, 1980). In particular, girls who mature earlier than their peers seem to find pubertal adjustment especially challenging and are more likely to experience detrimental sequelae (e.g., Caspi & Moffitt, 1991; Ge, Conger & Elder, 1996).
Just as puberty itself is multiply determined, the negative outcomes associated with early pubertal timing span multiple domains. These include psychological, medical, sexual, social, and academic correlates (e.g., Caspi & Moffitt, 1991; Graber, Lewinsohn, Seeley, & Brooks-Gunn, 1997; Graber, Seeley, Brooks-Gunn, & Lewinsohn, 2004; Stice, Presnall, & Bearman, 2001). The present review synthesizes the vast research conducted on negative psychological effects of early pubertal timing in adolescent girls. We have chosen to focus only on the female pubertal transition, as there is evidence that timing of puberty affects boys and girls in different ways (e.g., Graber et al, 1997, 2004) and the surfeit of research on both genders precludes inclusion in a single review,.
It is worth noting that Ellis (2004) similarly integrated the female pubertal timing literature in a seminal review paper on precursors of early maturation. The current paper seeks to complement and extend this earlier work by reviewing negative sequelae of early maturation. Taken together, the two papers converge to provide a comprehensive examination of the process of early physical development in adolescent girls. We refer readers seeking greater background on the precursors of pubertal timing to Ellis’s work.
There are several potential explanations for the mechanism by which early physical development influences the emergence of adverse outcomes. These fall broadly into the categories of psychosocial, biological, or selection effects. Advocates of a psychosocial process note the influence of environmental context in coming of age. Early maturation precipitates a flurry of social changes for which girls may not be “developmentally ready” (Rierdan & Koff, 1993). Because maturation inadvertently aborts the resolution of developmental tasks from the preadolescent period, girls are forced to grapple with these social changes with fewer resources than later maturing peers.