NCJ Number
140475
Journal
Journal of Adolescent Research Volume: 8 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1993) Pages: 21-40
Date Published
1993
Length
20 pages
Annotation
The influence of pubertal status, timing of puberty, and chronological age of adolescent heterosexual experience and juvenile delinquency were studied using a sample of siblings who were adjacent in birth order and mainly 10-16 years old.
Abstract
The sample included 376 male and 397 females from English-speaking families in a southwestern city. Data was gathered by means of interviews that took place in the homes. Hierarchical regression analyses examined the linear and curvilinear effects of chronological age and pubertal status. Statistically significant age and pubertal status terms were then combined in a full model comparing their relative influence. Results revealed that in females, pubertal status predicted delinquency and sexual experience independently of age. In males, the evidence of independent pubertal effects was weaker. Separate analyses of pubertal timing indicated that early maturers among both males and females reported engaging in more sexual activity and delinquent behavior than late maturers. Findings reinforce the need to separate the influence of pubertal status from the timing of puberty and chronological age so that data is more clearly interpretable. Results also indicate that the effects of age and puberty are not independent and that each has unique meaning to the individual, peers, and parents and is a different marker for social influences and physical changes. Tables, note, and 41 references