Perceived Physical Maturity, Age of Romantic Partner, and Adolescent Risk Behavior

Abstract

Early pubertal timing and advanced physical maturity for age confer elevated risk for problem behaviors for both boys and girls. However, examinations of possible biological and social mediators have been limited. Using more than 4,000 adolescents under age 15 who participated in Waves I and II of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), we examined the relationship between perceived physical maturity and membership in risk behavior clusters, and tested whether having a romantic partner mediates the maturity/risk behavior relationship. Results of multinomial regression models indicated that for both boys and girls, advanced physical maturity was associated with membership in higher risk clusters, and that having a romantic partner plays an important mediating role in this association. For females, the additional impact of having an older partner, versus any partner at all, was substantial and particularly important for the highest risk clusters. The role of partner age could not be tested for males. Because romantic partners elevate risk for young adolescent males and females, there is a need to identify and understand facets and developmental functions of adolescent romantic relationships that play a role in substance use and sexual decisions.

Putting pubertal timing in developmental context: Implications for prevention

“…In this study, deviant peer affiliation accounted for early timing effects in aggressive and delinquent behavior across the middle school years (Lynne et al, 2007). Across several studies, affiliation with deviant peers as well as romantic partners who engaged in delinquent behaviors has been linked to increased psychopathology among early maturing girls (e.g., Halpern, Kaestle, & Hallfors, 2007). Thus, the transition into new relationships may be a critical factor in adjustment pathways, especially for adolescent girls, but likely for both boys and girls.…”

HIV Information and Behavioral Skills Moderate the Effects of Relationship Type and Substance Use on HIV Risk Behaviors Among African American Youth

“…The literature indicates that having an older partner has been associated with decreased condom use, 13,14 contraceptive use, 83 and risky sex and substance use for adolescent girls, 84 and that partner age difference may matter more for younger than for older adolescent females. 85,86 It was unexpected to find that participants who scored higher on the HIV knowledge quiz had more unprotected sex with older partners than participants with lower scores; a study of African American low-income adolescents also found that greater HIV knowledge was associated with more unprotected sex, although partner age differences were not examined. 87 It is also possible that greater HIV knowledge is a result of higher levels of unprotected sex.…”

Adolescent Predictors of Emerging Adult Sexual Patterns

“…Kinsey [36,37] reported an association between earlier maturation and stronger sex drive for males (but not females), which could be related to premarital sexual activity, but few investigators have tested this idea. Other work suggests the importance of early involvement with older romantic partners [38] for more physically mature adolescents, and perhaps a lack of romantic involvement for later maturing males, even controlling for attractiveness [39]. Few prospective investigations have examined the longterm implications of pubertal timing for sexual patterns in males.…”