Early Pubertal Timing and Testosterone Associated With Higher Levels of Adolescent Depression in Girls

The association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and pubertal timing has been a topic of enduring controversy. A systematic search of PubMed and Web of Science databases was undertaken to quantify the magnitude of total and specific forms of ACEs effects on early pubertal timing among girls. Our search identified 3280 records, of which 43 studies with 46 independent data sets met inclusion criteria. We estimated pooled effect sizes (Cohen’s ds) for the association between ACEs with early pubertal timing. Total ACEs was not associated with early pubertal timing. When we examined the specific types of ACEs, associations were small to medium for father absence (d = −0.40, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.63, −0.16) and small for sexual abuse (d = −0.13, CI: −0.17, −0.10) and family dysfunction (d = −0.08, CI: −0.11, −0.02). We identified considerable heterogeneity between estimates for almost all of the outcomes. ACEs exposure may affect female reproductive reproduction, particularly father absence, sexual abuse, and family dysfunction. We propose that future research in this area test a theoretical model linking adversity with earlier reproductive strategy, which includes early pubertal timing as a core component linking early adversity and stress physiology with poor health outcomes later in life in females.

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Pubertal Timing as a Transdiagnostic Risk for Psychopathology in Youth

Clinical Psychological Science ◽

10.1177/2167702618810518 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 411-429 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Elissa J. Hamlat ◽

Hannah R. Snyder ◽

Jami F. Young ◽

Benjamin L. Hankin

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

Factor Model ◽

Pubertal Timing ◽

Organizational Models ◽

General Psychopathology ◽

Early Pubertal Timing ◽

Specific Factors ◽

P Factor ◽

Internalizing And Externalizing ◽

Different Levels

Evidence suggests that early pubertal timing may operate as a transdiagnostic risk factor (i.e., shared across syndromes of psychopathology) for both genders. The current study examined associations between pubertal timing and dimensional psychopathology, structured across different levels of three organizational models: (a) DSM-based syndrome model, (b) traditional model of internalizing and externalizing factors, and (c) bifactor (p factor) model, which includes a general psychopathology factor as well as internalizing- and externalizing-specific factors. For study analyses, 567 youth-parent pairs completed psychopathology measures when youths (55.5% female) were 13.58 years old ( SD = 2.37, range = 9–17 years). Findings across all models revealed that early pubertal timing served as a transdiagnostic risk factor and also displayed some syndrome-specific associations. Gender did not moderate any relationships between pubertal timing and psychopathology. Study findings reinforce the importance of examining risk across different levels of psychopathology conceptualization and analysis.

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The emerging sex difference in adolescent depression: Interacting contributions of puberty and peer stress

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s0954579409000327 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 593-620 ◽

Cited By ~ 127

Author(s):

Colleen S. Conley ◽

Karen D. Rudolph

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Peer Relationships ◽

Sex Difference ◽

Adolescent Depression ◽

Pubertal Timing ◽

Psychological Processes ◽

Pubertal Status ◽

Peer Stress ◽

Early Timing ◽

Over Time

AbstractThis research investigated the developmental stages (pubertal status) and contexts (early or late timing relative to peers, and a context of stressful versus supportive peer relationships) in which the sex difference in depression unfolds. A sample of 158 youth (ages 9.6–14.8) and their caregivers provided information at two waves, 1 year apart, on puberty, peer stress, and depression. Pubertal status and timing (actual and perceived) interacted with sex to predict depression. Sex differences in depression were evident at particular levels of pubertal status and timing, both actual and perceived. Depression was associated with more mature pubertal status and early timing (both actual and perceived) in girls, but with less mature pubertal status and late timing (actual and perceived) in boys. These patterns held concurrently, and often over time, particularly in a context of stressful peer relationships (peer stress moderated sex-differentiated associations between puberty and depression). Of note, there were no significant sex differences in depression at any particular age. Thus, this research highlights important distinctions among the contributions of age, pubertal status, pubertal timing, and perceived timing to the sex difference in adolescent depression. More broadly, these findings contribute to our growing understanding of the interactions among physical, social, and psychological processes involved in the sex difference in adolescent depression.

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