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Relationships of Pubertal Development Among Early Adolescents to Sexual and Nonsexual Risk Behaviors and Caregivers' Parenting Behaviors.

ABSTRACT: Using a school-based sample of Washington, DC, fifth graders (mean age 10.38, SD = 0.66) and their parents (N = 408), we examined associations of pubertal development with early adolescents' sexual and nonsexual risk behaviors and their caregivers' parenting behaviors; and of these risk behaviors with parenting behaviors. Youths reporting signs of pubertal development were more likely to engage in these risk behaviors than students reporting no signs. Pubertal development was not related to parenting behaviors; however, parents of youths who reported multiple nonsexual risk behaviors reported more parent-child communication about sexual topics. These results highlight the need to begin risk prevention efforts early, prior to pubertal development. Research is needed to understand how parents can help youths better cope with pubertal development to avoid involvement in sexual and nonsexual risk behaviors.

SUBMITTER: Koo HP

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3146760 | biostudies-literature | 2011 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Relationships of Pubertal Development Among Early Adolescents to Sexual and Nonsexual Risk Behaviors and Caregivers' Parenting Behaviors.

Koo Helen P HP Rose Allison A Bhaskar Brinda B Walker Leslie R LR

The Journal of early adolescence 20110501 4

Using a school-based sample of Washington, DC, fifth graders (mean age 10.38, SD = 0.66) and their parents (N = 408), we examined associations of pubertal development with early adolescents' sexual and nonsexual risk behaviors and their caregivers' parenting behaviors; and of these risk behaviors with parenting behaviors. Youths reporting signs of pubertal development were more likely to engage in these risk behaviors than students reporting no signs. Pubertal development was not related to pare ...[more]

PMID: 21808444

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Project description:Research has demonstrated that adolescents of the digital age engage in developmental tasks by interacting with others in both online and offline environments. However, no studies have investigated how adolescents develop their identity, a crucial developmental task, by engaging in online and offline prosocial behaviors. To address this research gap, we examined the role of online and offline prosocial behavior in identity development during adolescence using variable- and person-centered approaches. The participants were 608 individuals in early adolescence (50.2% girls; age range = 12-13 years, Mage = 12.75 years, SD = 0.43) and 594 individuals in middle adolescence (50.3% girls; age range = 15-16 years, Mage = 15.79 years, SD = 0.41) in Japan. They completed questionnaires to measure identity development, online and offline prosocial behavior, and demographic characteristics. The results from the variable-centered approach (i.e., identity dimensions) revealed that both online and offline prosocial behaviors were positively related to commitments and proactive explorations in early and middle adolescence. The findings from the person-centered approach (i.e., identity statuses) demonstrated that early and middle adolescents with higher levels of online prosocial behavior were more likely to show searching moratorium than all other identity statuses, whereas those with higher levels of offline prosocial behavior were more likely to show achievement than troubled diffusion, carefree diffusion, and undifferentiated. Consistent with both variable- and person-centered approaches, these findings highlight that online prosocial behavior can be a new resource for identity development in adolescence. Moreover, the results suggest that online prosocial behaviors lead to identity status in the process of maturing identity and that offline prosocial behavior is necessary to become more mature identity status. Regarding practical implications, educating adolescents on digital media literacy, including supportive behavior in online environments, is crucial to gradually exploring their identity. In addition, for adolescents to develop more mature identity, adults should create in-person environments in which they participate in offline prosocial behavior. The limitations of our findings with respect to the online and offline prosocial behavior scale items are discussed.

Project description:BACKGROUND: Despite the large number of parenting questionnaires, considerable disagreement exists about how to best assess parenting. Most of the instruments only assess limited aspects of parenting. To overcome this shortcoming, the "Comprehensive General Parenting Questionnaire" (CGPQ) was systematically developed. Such a measure is frequently requested in the area of childhood overweight. METHODS: First, an item bank of existing parenting measures was created assessing five key parenting constructs that have been identified across multiple theoretical approaches to parenting (Nurturance, Overprotection, Coercive control, Behavioral control, and Structure). Caregivers of 5- to 13-year-olds were asked to complete the online survey in the Netherlands (N?=?821), Belgium (N?=?435) and the United States (N?=?241). In addition, a questionnaire regarding personality characteristics ("Big Five") of the caregiver was administered and parents were asked to report about their child's height and weight. Factor analyses and Item-Response Modeling (IRM) techniques were used to assess the underlying parenting constructs and for item reduction. Correlation analyses were performed to assess the relations between general parenting and personality of the caregivers, adjusting for socio-economic status (SES) indicators, to establish criterion validity. Multivariate linear regressions were performed to examine the associations of SES indicators and parenting with child BMI z-scores. Additionally, we assessed whether scores on the parenting constructs and child BMI z-scores differed depending on SES indicators. RESULTS: The reduced questionnaire (62 items) revealed acceptable fit of our parenting model and acceptable IRM item fit statistics. Caregiver personality was related as hypothesized with the GCPQ parenting constructs. While correcting for SES, overprotection was positively related to child BMI. The negative relationship between structure and BMI was borderline significant. Parents with a high level of education were less likely to use overly forms of controlling parenting (i.e., coercive control and overprotection) and more likely to have children with lower BMI. Based on several author review meetings and cognitive interviews the questionnaire was further modified to an 85-item questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: The GCPQ may facilitate research exploring how parenting influences children's weight-related behaviors. The contextual influence of general parenting is likely to be more profound than its direct relationship with weight status.

Dataset Information

Relationships of Pubertal Development Among Early Adolescents to Sexual and Nonsexual Risk Behaviors and Caregivers' Parenting Behaviors.

Publications

Relationships of Pubertal Development Among Early Adolescents to Sexual and Nonsexual Risk Behaviors and Caregivers' Parenting Behaviors.

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