THE CONTRIBUTION OF LEVEL OF COGNITIVE-COMPLEXITY AND PUBERTAL TIMINGTO BEHAVIORAL RISK IN YOUNG ADOLESCENTS

Purpose. To determine the unique contributions of cognitive complexity and pubertal timing to participation in behavioral risk (substance us e, sexual activity, school and legal problems) among young adolescents . Design. Cross-sectional with cohort replication. Methods. Two cohort s of middle school students in grades eight and nine in a midwestern s chool district completed a self-report questionnaire in 1987 and 1989. Measures of behavioral and emotional risk, cognitive complexity and p ubertal timing relative to peers were included. Results. Complete data were available for 817 and 796 students in each cohort year. Gender, race, level of cognitive complexity and pubertal timing each contribut ed significantly to the variance in behavioral risk independent of chr onological age (P < .0001). Boys, whites, those at lower levels of cog nitive complexity and those who began pubertal maturation earlier than peers, were at significantly greater risk. Adolescents who demonstrat ed higher levels of cognitive complexity and those who began puberty l ater compared to peers participated in a smaller array of risk behavio rs, independent of chronological age. Implications. Pediatricians shou ld consider adolescents at lower levels of cognitive complexity (concr ete thinking) and those who begin puberty earlier at greater risk for participation in health risk behaviors. Preventive health counseling t ailored to the needs of this group may be most beneficial.