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Perceived pubertal timing and recent substance use among adolescents: a longitudinal perspective
Jessica Duncan Cance1, Susan T Ennett, Antonio A Morgan-Lopez
1Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, College of Education, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
Addiction (Abingdon, England)
|May 18, 2013
Summary
Adolescents perceiving earlier puberty reported higher recent substance use (cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana) at age 11. However, substance use increased more across adolescence for on-time developers.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent health
- Developmental psychology
- Substance use research
Background:
- Pubertal timing is a critical developmental period.
- Adolescent substance use is a significant public health concern.
- Understanding the interplay between pubertal development and substance use is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the longitudinal associations between perceived pubertal timing and recent substance use.
- To examine these relationships in adolescents aged 11 to 17 years.
Main Methods:
- A school-based cohort sequential study in rural North Carolina.
- Involved 6892 adolescents (50% female) from 6th-8th grades.
- Utilized self-administered questionnaires and latent class growth analysis.
Main Results:
- Early pubertal developers showed higher rates of recent cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use at age 11.
- On-time developers experienced a greater increase in cigarette and marijuana use throughout adolescence compared to early developers.
- Substance use cessation rates were similar across all perceived pubertal timing groups.
Conclusions:
- Adolescents perceiving earlier puberty are more likely to engage in recent substance use, particularly at age 11.
- The trajectory of substance use differs based on perceived pubertal timing during adolescence.
- These findings highlight the importance of considering perceived pubertal development in adolescent substance use prevention strategies.
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