Sex differences in the contribution of puberty to depression: The role of other-sex relationship stress

Research suggests that the pubertal transition, particularly when experienced early relative to peers, is associated with heightened depression in girls but less depression in boys. This study examined whether exposure to stress within other-sex relationships serves as one process through which puberty differentially contributes to depression for girls and boys. Youth (51 girls; 34 boys; M age = 12.68, SD = 1.28) and their caregivers reported on pubertal status and age of menarche for postmenarcheal girls. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to assess youths’ depression and exposure to romantic and platonic other-sex stress. As anticipated, more advanced status and earlier timing were associated with more depression in girls and less depression in boys. More advanced status and earlier timing were associated with less other-sex stress in boys, whereas earlier age of menarche was associated with more other-sex stress in girls. Other-sex stress partially mediated the association between earlier age of menarche and depression in girls, suggesting one process through which puberty is linked to risk for depression in girls.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2010

Author dc:creator

• Llewellyn, Nicole M.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Rudolph, Karen D.
• Roisman, Glenn I.

• puberty
• depression
• other-sex stress

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2010 Nicole M. Llewellyn

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/16925

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/16925