Links between Pubertal Timing, Peer Influences, and Externalizing Behaviors among Urban Students Followed Through Middle School

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• 作者：Sarah D. Lynne ; Julia A. Graber ; Tracy R. Nichols ; Jeanne Brooks-Gunn ; Gilbert J. Botvin
• 关键词：Aggression ; Delinquency ; Delinquent peers ; Pubertal timing ; Longitudinal ; Mediation ; Urban ; Minority ; Middle school ; Adolescence
• 刊名：Journal of Adolescent Health
• 出版年：2007
• 期刊代码：140_1054139x
• 类别：med
• 出版时间：February 2007
• 卷：40
• 期：2
• 页码：181.e7-181.e13
• 文件大小：112 K

摘要

>Purpose

To evaluate underlying mechanisms of the association between early pubertal timing and both aggression and delinquency among a sample of minority males and females from an urban community.

Methods

The association between perceived early pubertal maturation and aggressive or delinquent behaviors for African American and Latino males and females (n = 1366) was examined, as well as pathways between early maturation and these negative outcomes longitudinally across 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.

Results

Early maturers reported higher mean levels of both aggression and delinquency at all time points regardless of gender or ethnicity. Associating with delinquent peers in 6th grade fully mediated the association between early maturation and both aggression and delinquency at all time points. Early maturers did not differentially associate with greater numbers of delinquent peers in either 7th or 8th grade.

Conclusions

These results provide valuable information regarding at-risk groups and inform future intervention efforts.