PUBERTAL MATURATION AND CHANGES IN SELF-IMAGE IN EARLY ADOLESCENT FINNISH BOYS

Onset of puberty is known to be a stressful period of life. The young adolescent must face sever al simultaneous developmental challenges, w hich are reflected as a gap in self-image. In this study, relationship s between biological pubertal events and self-image were analyzed in a sample of 59 healthy adolescent bolts from the Helsinki al ea. Detail ed information on pubertal development was collected by a pediatrician at three-month intervals. The subjects filled in the Offer Self-Image Questionnaire at 13 and at 14 years and were interviewed by a child p sychiatrist. During the year, self-image increased in four domains: Im pulse Control, Emotional Tone, Sexual Attitudes, and Psychopathology. The changes in the first two domains were related to pubertal events. In contrast, changes in emotional health and in sexual attitudes did n ot correlate with bodily changes oi-testosterone. As regards body imag e, differences were not found in I elation to age, but in relation to genital stages. These findings indicate that some aspects of self-imag e develop as a function of psychological and cognitive maturation, whi le other aspects are related to biological events.