The relation between puberty and psychological distress in adolescent boys

This longitudinal study examined the relation between puberty, as measured by both pubertal status and timing, and adjustment problems, as measured by externalized hostile feelings and internalized distress symptoms, among ad olescent males in grades 7 through 10. The results showed that boys who wer e physically more developed in grade 7, compared with their less physically developed peers, manifested more externalized hostile feelings and interna lized distress symptoms in grades 8 through 10. Pubertal timing was signifi cantly related to both internalized distress and externalized hostile feeli ngs. This relation remained statistically significant, even after controlli ng for grade 7 maladjustment symptoms and concurrent stressful life events. Several significant interaction effects emerged between pubertal timing an d concurrent stressful life events. The significant long term effect of the pubertal transition, independent of stressful life experiences and symptom continuity suggests that the past undifferentiated view of the favorable i nfluence of early maturation on males needs to be modified.