INITIATION OF SUBSTANCE USE IN EARLY ADOLESCENCE - THE ROLES OF PUBERTAL TIMING AND EMOTIONAL DISTRESS

Two hypotheses regarding the effects of pubertal timing on substance u se were tested in a prospective study of 221 young adolescents. A matu rational-deviance hypothesis predicted that early-maturing girls and l ate-maturing boys would experience heightened emotional distress, whic h in turn would influence initiation and use of substances. Alternativ ely, an early-maturation hypothesis predicted that early-maturing girl s would engage in more substance use than all other groups, independen t of emotional distress. Early-maturing adolescents reported more subs tance use within 1 year. Adolescents experiencing elevated levels of n egative affect also reported greater substance use within the next yea r. However, pubertal timing was not related to emotional distress. Res ults support the early-maturation hypothesis for girls and suggest its extension to boys.