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Early puberty is associated with mental health problems in middle adolescence

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  • Kaltiala-Heino, Riittakerttu
  • Marttunen, Mauri
  • Rantanen, Päivi
  • Rimpelä, Matti

Abstract

This study set out to assess the relationship between pubertal timing and emotional and behavioural problems in middle adolescence. The study involved a school based survey of health, health behaviour and behaviour in school as well as questions about emotional and behavioural problems (the School Health Promotion Study). Secondary schools in four regions and 13 towns in Finland participated in the study in 1998. The respondents were 36,549 adolescents aged 14-16. The study included questions on depression, bulimia nervosa, psychosomatic symptoms, anxiety, drinking, substance use, smoking, bullying and truancy. Among girls, both internalising and externalising symptoms were more common the earlier puberty occurred. Among boys, externalising symptoms only were associated with early puberty. It is concluded that early pubertal timing is associated with increased mental health problems. Professionals working with adolescents should consider the mental health needs of early maturing adolescents.

Suggested Citation

  • Kaltiala-Heino, Riittakerttu & Marttunen, Mauri & Rantanen, Päivi & Rimpelä, Matti, 2003. "Early puberty is associated with mental health problems in middle adolescence," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 57(6), pages 1055-1064, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:57:y:2003:i:6:p:1055-1064
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Hui Ling & Yaqin Yan & En Fu & Amin Zhu & Jianren Zhang & Siyang Yuan, 2021. "Parenting Styles as a Moderator of the Association between Pubertal Timing and Chinese Adolescents’ Smoking Behavior," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-12, August.
    2. Cozzi, Donatella & Vinel, Virginie, 2015. "Risky, early, controversial. Puberty in medical discourses," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 287-296.
    3. Lien, Lars & Haavet, Ole Rikard & Dalgard, Florence, 2010. "Do mental health and behavioural problems of early menarche persist into late adolescence? A three year follow-up study among adolescent girls in Oslo, Norway," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(3), pages 529-533, August.
    4. Candace Currie, 2019. "Development is not the same as ageing: the relevance of puberty to health of adolescents," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 64(2), pages 149-150, March.
    5. Lotta Uusitalo-Malmivaara, 2012. "Global and School-Related Happiness in Finnish Children," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 13(4), pages 601-619, August.
    6. Lotta Uusitalo-Malmivaara & Juhani Lehto, 2013. "Social Factors Explaining Children’s Subjective Happiness and Depressive Symptoms," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 111(2), pages 603-615, April.
    7. Kristina Sonmark & Emmanuelle Godeau & Lily Augustine & Magnus Bygren & Bitte Modin, 2016. "Individual and Contextual Expressions of School Demands and their Relation to Psychosomatic Health a Comparative Study of Students in France and Sweden," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 9(1), pages 93-109, March.
    8. Hui Ling & Yaqin Yan & Hong Feng & Amin Zhu & Jianren Zhang & Siyang Yuan, 2022. "Parenting Styles as a Moderator of the Association between Pubertal Timing and Chinese Adolescents’ Drinking Behavior," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-14, March.
    9. Hoyt, Lindsay Till & Falconi, April M., 2015. "Puberty and perimenopause: Reproductive transitions and their implications for women's health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 103-112.
    10. Matthew Morton & Paul Montgomery, 2011. "Youth Empowerment Programs for Improving Self‐Efficacy and Self‐Esteem of Adolescents," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 7(1), pages 1-80.
    11. Ayana K. April-Sanders & Parisa Tehranifar & Erica Lee Argov & Shakira F. Suglia & Carmen B. Rodriguez & Jasmine A. McDonald, 2021. "Influence of Childhood Adversity and Infection on Timing of Menarche in a Multiethnic Sample of Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-15, April.
    12. Hatch, Stephani L. & Jones, Peter B. & Kuh, Diana & Hardy, Rebecca & Wadsworth, Michael E.J. & Richards, Marcus, 2007. "Childhood cognitive ability and adult mental health in the British 1946 birth cohort," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(11), pages 2285-2296, June.
    13. Davison, Kirsten Krahnstoever & Werder, Jessica L. & Trost, Stewart G. & Baker, Birgitta L. & Birch, Leann L., 2007. "Why are early maturing girls less active? Links between pubertal development, psychological well-being, and physical activity among girls at ages 11 and 13," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(12), pages 2391-2404, June.
    14. Lien, Lars & Dalgard, Florence & Heyerdahl, Sonja & Thoresen, Magne & Bjertness, Espen, 2006. "The relationship between age of menarche and mental distress in Norwegian adolescent girls and girls from different immigrant groups in Norway: Results from an urban city cross-sectional survey," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(2), pages 285-295, July.

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