title: Pubertal timing, sexual behaviour and self-reported depression in middle adolescence.
abstract: The associations between pubertal timing, sexual activity and self-reported depression were analysed in a population sample of 17,082 girls and 15,922 boys aged 14-16 as a par of a classroom survey. Pubertal timing was assessed by age at onset of menstruation (menarche) or ejaculations (oigarche). Sexual experiences elicited included kissing, light petting, heavy petting and intercourse. Self-reported depression was measured by the 13-item Beck Depression Inventory. Among girls, self-reported depression was associated with early puberty and intimate sexual relationship. Among boys depression was associated with very early and late puberty and experience of intercourse. Early puberty is a risk factor for self-reported depression. Intimate sexual relationships in middle adolescent are likely to indicate problems in adolescent development rather than successful adolescent passage.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Treatment and Research Unit for Adolescent Intensive Care, Tampere University Hospital, Box 607, 33101 Tampere, Finland. merihe@uta.fi
authors.forename: Riittakerttu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaltiala-Heino
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kosunen
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rimpelä
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D003075:Coitus / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011606:Psychosexual Development; D011627:Puberty / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data