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A Longitudinal Study Examining Sex Differences in the Development of Punishment Sensitivity: Considering the Role of
Jessica M Biasin1, Devlyn Yarenko2, Teena Willoughby3
1Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, ON, Canada. jessica.biasin@ontariotechu.net.
Abstract:
Punishment sensitivity (a heightened responsiveness to aversive situations) is typically higher among females than males, however, research has yet to assess whether males and females have distinct developmental trajectories in punishment sensitivity over time. Participants included 1,141 children and adolescents (at year one Mage = 10.7, SD = 1.71, range = 8-15; 49.96% female). The current seven-year longitudinal study used self-report to assess punishment sensitivity, sex, and two markers of development, age and puberty. Across age, both males and females demonstrated non-linear increases in punishment sensitivity, with females displaying a rapid acceleration between the ages of 8 and 15. For females only, there was a significant interaction between pubertal development and age on punishment sensitivity. Although punishment sensitivity increased across age, this effect was exacerbated by pubertal development for females only. These findings indicate that although both males and females increase in punishment sensitivity across adolescence, this increase is more rapid among females, particularly those with more advanced pubertal development.gend.
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