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 use were tested in a prospective study of 221 young adolescents. A maturational-deviance hypothesis predicted that early-maturing girls and late-maturing boys would experience heightened emotional distress, which in turn would influence initiation and use of substances. Alternatively, an early-maturation hypothesis predicted that early-maturing girls would engage in more substance use than all other groups, independent of emotional distress. Early-maturing adolescents reported more substance use within 1 year. Adolescents experiencing elevated levels of negative affect also reported greater substance use within the next year. However, pubertal timing was not related to emotional distress. Results support the early-maturation hypothesis for girls and suggest its extension to boys.
Tschann
J M
JM
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0844.
Adler
N E
NE
Irwin
C E
CE
Millstein
S G
SG
Turner
R A
RA
Kegeles
S M
SM
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*