Mental health problems during puberty: Tanner stage‐related differences in specific symptoms. The TRAILS study

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate associations between specific mental health problems and pubertal stage in (pre)adolescents participating in the Dutch prospective cohort study TRAILS (first assessment: N=2230, age 11.09±0.56, 50.8% girls; second assessment: N=2149, age 13.56±0.53, 51.0% girls). Mental health was assessed by the Youth Self-Report, pubertal (Tanner) stage by parent-rated drawings of secondary sex characteristics. Overall, higher Tanner stages were related to more reported tiredness, irritability, rule-breaking behaviors, and substance use; and fewer fears and somatic complaints. Girls showed increases in social uncertainty, depressed mood, and worries; boys a decrease in self-criticism. Increasing problems during puberty were mostly related to the process of physical maturation, whereas decreasing problems were rather related to general age-related developments. Pubertal timing was associated with different symptoms than pubertal status or age. Puberty seems to affect girls more negatively than boys.

Source: Journal of Adolescence

DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2010.01.010

Authors: Albertine J. Oldehinkel, Frank C. Verhulst, Johan Ormel

Institutions: University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Erasmus MC, Erasmus MC - Sophia Children’s Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: European Science Foundation, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, ZonMw, Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale, Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek- en Documentatiecentrum, Medical Research Council, Erasmus Universitair Medisch Centrum Rotterdam

OpenAlex ID: W2071897848