title: The role of pubertal timing and temperamental vulnerability in adolescents' internalizing symptoms.
abstract: This longitudinal study examined the joint role of pubertal timing and temperament variables (emotional reactivity and self-regulation) in predicting adolescents' internalizing symptoms. The multiethnic sample included 1,025 adolescent girls and boys followed from age 11 to age 15 (M age = 11.03 years at Time 1). In structural equation models, age 11 measures of pubertal timing, emotional reactivity, and self-regulation and their interactions were used to predict adolescents' internalizing behavior concurrently and at age 15. Results indicated that, among girls, early pubertal timing, higher emotional reactivity, and lower self-regulation predicted increased internalizing behavior. In addition, self-regulation moderated the effect of pubertal timing such that effects of earlier timing on subsequent internalizing were seen primarily among girls with relatively poor self-regulation. Among boys, higher levels of emotional reactivity and lower self-regulation predicted increased internalizing, but there were no effects of pubertal timing. After controlling for Time 1 internalizing symptoms, only self-regulation predicted change in internalizing symptoms. Discussion focuses on the possible interplay of temperament and pubertal development in predicting internalizing problems during adolescence.
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NE 68588-0308, USA. ecrockett1@unl.edu
authors.forename: Lisa J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Crockett
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carlo
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.forename: Meredith O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Hope
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D000367:Age Factors; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011627:Puberty / Q000523:psychology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D013694:Temperament