TY - JOUR
T1 - Early pubertal maturation and internalizing problems in adolescence
T2 - Sex differences in the role of cortisol reactivity to interpersonal stress
AU - Natsuaki, Misaki N.
AU - Klimes-Dougan, Bonnie
AU - Ge, Xiaojia
AU - Shirtcliff, Elizabeth A.
AU - Hastings, Paul D.
AU - Zahn-Waxler, Carolyn
PY - 2009/7/1
Y1 - 2009/7/1
N2 - An accumulating body of literature has shown a link between early pubertal maturation and internalizing problems, particularly among girls. Our knowledge is, however, limited with regard to what accounts for this association. Based on a hypothesis that early maturing girls have heightened stress sensitivity that increases the risk of internalizing problems, the present investigation examined the roles of pubertal timing and salivary cortisol reactivity to interpersonal stressors in adolescents' internalizing problems. Results from 110 boys and 106 girls (ages 11-16) indicated that early maturing adolescents had increased internalizing symptoms. Early maturing girls' higher levels of internalizing problems were at least partially attributed to their heightened sensitivity to interpersonal stress. Finally, girls' cortisol reactivity to interpersonal challenge was more strongly associated with internalizing problems than boys' reactivity.
AB - An accumulating body of literature has shown a link between early pubertal maturation and internalizing problems, particularly among girls. Our knowledge is, however, limited with regard to what accounts for this association. Based on a hypothesis that early maturing girls have heightened stress sensitivity that increases the risk of internalizing problems, the present investigation examined the roles of pubertal timing and salivary cortisol reactivity to interpersonal stressors in adolescents' internalizing problems. Results from 110 boys and 106 girls (ages 11-16) indicated that early maturing adolescents had increased internalizing symptoms. Early maturing girls' higher levels of internalizing problems were at least partially attributed to their heightened sensitivity to interpersonal stress. Finally, girls' cortisol reactivity to interpersonal challenge was more strongly associated with internalizing problems than boys' reactivity.
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U2 - 10.1080/15374410902976320
DO - 10.1080/15374410902976320
M3 - Article
C2 - 20183638
AN - SCOPUS:70449585008
VL - 38
SP - 513
EP - 524
JO - Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology
JF - Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology
SN - 1537-4416
IS - 4
ER -