Effects of Pubertal Timing on Communication Behaviors and Stress Reactivity in Young Women During Conflict Discussions with their Mothers

Individuation, a process whereby adolescents gain autonomy from their parents while maintaining emotional relatedness, is displayed by characteristic styles of verbal exchanges. Negotiating this developmental transition is often stressful for adolescents and their parents. This study deals with the association between pubertal timing, communication behaviors, and stress reactivity assessed during young females’ conflict discussions with their mothers. A sample of N = 32 girls (age 9–13, T1) was grouped by pubertal timing. Years later (age 17–22, T2) they were followed up and videotapes of daughter–mother conflict discussions were evaluated. Salivary alpha-amylase was used to assess the stress reactivity. Results revealed that young women who had entered puberty early were higher in striving for control and separation in interactions with their mothers, and displayed higher stress levels. These results pointed to less successful individuation in late adolescence/young adulthood compared to on-time and late maturing age mates.

Rainer K. SilbereisenEmail:

---

Karina Weichold   is an Assistant Professor of Developmental Psychology, University of Jena, Germany. Received PhD in 2002 from the University of Jena, Germany. Major research interests: Development of problem behaviors and positive adaptation during adolescence in times of social change, with focus on biopsychosocial risk and protective mechanisms, and application of findings on prevention and promotion programs. Sabine Büttig   is a Clinical Psychologist working at the Hospital Weinsberg, Germany. Received PhD in 2007 from the University of Jena, Germany. Major research interests: Long-term consequences of inter-individual differences during puberty. Rainer K. Silbereisen   is a Professor and Head of the Department of Developmental Psychology, and Director of the Center for Applied Developmental Science (CADS), University of Jena, Germany. He is also Adjunct Professor of Human Development and Family Studies at the Pennsylvania State University (USA). Received PhD in 1975 from the Technical University of Berlin, Germany. Major research interests: Interdisciplinary large scale research on the role of social change in positive and maladaptive human development, utilizing a cross-cultural and biopsychosocial format.