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Elevated social anxiety among early maturing girls
Heidemarie Blumenthal1, Ellen W Leen-Feldner, Kimberly A Babson
1Department of Psychology, Arkansas Interdisciplinary Sciences Laboratory, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA. hblumen@uark.edu
Developmental Psychology
|May 25, 2011
Summary
Early maturing girls show higher social anxiety compared to peers. This study highlights the link between pubertal timing and social anxiety in adolescents, informing prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent psychology
- Developmental psychopathology
Background:
- Adolescence is a critical period for anxiety disorder development.
- Early puberty is linked to increased anxiety vulnerability, but its role in social anxiety is understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between pubertal timing and social anxiety.
- To clarify the influence of gender on this association.
Main Methods:
- 138 adolescents (ages 12-17) were recruited from the general community.
- Social anxiety levels were assessed in relation to gender and pubertal timing.
Main Results:
- Early maturing girls reported significantly higher social anxiety than on-time girls and early maturing boys.
- No other significant differences were found based on gender or developmental timing.
Conclusions:
- Pubertal timing, particularly early maturation in girls, is associated with increased social anxiety.
- Findings support the need for developmentally sensitive models in understanding and preventing social anxiety.
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