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The Bidirectional Association Between Racial Discrimination and Pubertal Development: A Prospective Investigation
Michael G Curtis1, Ava Reck2, Chris Collins2
1Department of Family Social Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Summary
Pubertal development in Black and Latinx girls, but not boys, predicted later racial discrimination exposure. This suggests physical maturation may trigger racist stereotypes affecting young women of color.
Area of Science:
- Developmental psychology
- Sociology of race and ethnicity
- Adolescent health
Background:
- Racial discrimination is linked to pubertal development in minority youth.
- The directionality of this relationship is not well understood.
- This study investigates bidirectional effects in Black and Latinx adolescents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the bidirectional associations between racial discrimination and pubertal development.
- To explore these relationships among Black and Latinx boys and girls.
- To understand the developmental trajectory from ages 9 to 11.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal data from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) study (2016-2020).
- Sample of 3,271 Black and Latinx youth (ages 11 at T1, 12 at T2).
- Cross-lagged models stratified by race/ethnicity and sex were used.
Main Results:
- No significant association found between racial discrimination at T1 and pubertal status at T2 across subgroups.
- Significant prospective association found between pubertal development at T1 and racial discrimination at T2 for Black and Latinx girls.
- This association persisted after controlling for confounding variables like stressful life events and neurocognitive development.
Conclusions:
- Physical maturation in Black and Latinx girls may precede and trigger discriminatory experiences.
- Findings highlight the impact of racist stereotypes on young women of color.
- Early pubertal indicators can negatively influence youth development through discrimination.
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