1. Pubertal Timing and Tempo: Associations with Friends’ Behavior in Early and Middle Adolescence Catherine Thompson 1, Meredith Henry 2, Sylvie Mrug 2 1 Samford University 2 University of Alabama at Birmingham Discussion References Measures continued Acknowledgement &Contact information Catherine Thompson Samford University Email: cthomps1@samford.educthomps1@samford.edu Phone: (256) 682-7571 Introduction Conclusion Results Early timing and faster tempo of pubertal development are associated with externalizing and internalizing problems (Marceau et al., 2011; Negriff et al., 2011). Some of these problems may be due to early maturing youth forming friendships with more deviant peers (Lynne et al., 2007). Several studies have shown that early maturing youth describe friends with higher levels of delinquent and rule-breaking behavior (Caspi et al., 1993; Ge et al., 1996, 2002). It is unknown whether pubertal timing is related to friends’ prosocial behavior. Additionally, no studies have addressed whether pubertal tempo (i.e., how fast children progress through puberty) also relates to peer behavior. It is possible that faster maturing youth select older, more deviant friends, or that they select more prosocial friends. The roles of pubertal timing and tempo in friends’ behavior may also vary as a function of gender and age. The current study examines associations of pubertal timing and tempo with deviant and prosocial friends’ behavior among girls and boys from early to middle adolescence. Social Network Questionnaire: Reports child and adolescent perceptions of the positive and negative characteristics of their own peer group. Children reported on their friends’ behavior at ages 11, 12 and 15. Assessed five individual constructs. Positive Social Network (Grade 5/6) Negative Social Network (Grade 5/6) Peer Group Moral Behavior (Age 15) Peer Group Academic Orientation (Age 15) Total Positive Peer Group (Age 15) NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. 951 children followed from birth to age 15 50% female 80% Caucasian 13% African American 7% Other Pubertal development: Pubertal development was assessed by trained nurses annually from ages 9 to 15. Pubertal timing and tempo were estimated over time from logistic growth models of the five Tanner stages measuring pubic hair and breast/penis and scrotum development (Marceau et al., 2011). Pubertal timing indicates the predicted age at which an individual will achieve Tanner Stage 3. Pubertal tempo indicates the speed with which an individual progresses from Stage 1 to Stage 5 (reported as stages completed per year). Data Analysis Multiple linear regression analyses were run in SPSS. Analyses were run separately for males and females. Peer behavior at ages 11, 12 and 15 were dependent variables. Step 1: Race, SES, Single-Parent Step 2: Pubertal Timing, Pubertal Rate MethodsMeasures Descriptive Statistics: Adolescents reached Tanner stage 3 at mean age 12.43 (SD=.93). On average, they completed 1.06 stages a year (SD=.19). At age 11, boys reported an average positive social network score of 17.61and girls reported an average positive social network score of 17.38. At age 12, boys reported an average total positive peer group score of 61.71 and girls reported an average total positive peer group score of 61.62. At age 15, boys reported an average total positive peer group score of 57.35 and girls reported an average total positive peer group score of 57.08. (Better as table???) Multiple Regression: Results indicated that at age 11, early maturing girls reported lower prosocial behavior among their friends (β=.12, p<.05). At age 12, there was a trend for both early and faster maturing girls to report more prosocial friends’ behavior (β =-10 and.10, p<.06) At age 15, faster maturing males reported less deviant friends’ behavior (β =.12, p<.05), as well as more prosocial friends’ behavior (β =.12, p<.05). Pubertal development was related to friends’ behavior in early adolescence for females but in middle adolescence for males. This likely reflects the earlier onset of puberty among girls and later onset among boys. Developmental differences suggest that early maturing girls’ tendency to select more deviant friends may reverse over time. Faster pubertal tempo was associated with more prosocial friends’ behavior among both boys and girls, although at different ages. This may reflect a tendency of greater psychosocial maturity for faster maturing youth. Overall, the results suggest that puberty-related peer characteristics are developmentally specific and likely transient over time. Gender differences within the relationship between pubertal timing/tempo and friends’ behavior at ages 11, 12, and 15 proved to be significant. As children progress from childhood to adolescence, peer group selection is an ever increasing influence in the child’s development. Further research in this area may help to distinguish the relationship between child biological processes and social competencies. This relationship may be particularly important as it applies to moral behavior and attitudes towards school and academic achievement. Caspi A, Lynam D, Moffitt T, Silva P. Unraveling girls' delinquency: biological, dispositional, and contextual contributions to adolescent misbehavior. American Psychological Association. 1993;29(1):19-30. Caspi A, Lynam D, Moffitt T, Silva P. Unraveling girls' delinquency: biological, dispositional, and contextual contributions to adolescent misbehavior. American Psychological Association. 1993;29(1):19-30. 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