Pubertal Timing in Adolescence and Adulthood: Relations among Contemporaneous and Retrospective Measures
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| Title: | Pubertal Timing in Adolescence and Adulthood: Relations among Contemporaneous and Retrospective Measures |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Natasha Chaku (ORCID |
| Source: | Developmental Psychology. 2025 61(5):928-943. |
| Availability: | American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 16 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Sponsoring Agency: | National Institute on Aging (NIA) (DHHS/NIH) Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (DHHS/NIH) National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) (DHHS/NIH) |
| Contract Number: | R01AG046938 HD010333 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Puberty, Adolescents, Adults, Adjustment (to Environment), Physical Development, Recall (Psychology), Bias, Gender Differences, Sexuality, Substance Abuse, Depression (Psychology) |
| Geographic Terms: | Colorado |
| Assessment and Survey Identifiers: | Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale |
| DOI: | 10.1037/dev0001784 |
| ISSN: | 0012-1649 1939-0599 |
| Abstract: | Pubertal development has short- and long-term effects on psychological adjustment. Many studies of long-term effects rely on retrospective measurement of pubertal timing, but such measures often reflect different aspects of puberty than those assessed in adolescence, raising questions about the utility and interpretation of retrospective reports. The present study leveraged longitudinal data collected in adolescence and established adulthood to determine: (1) the correspondence between pubertal timing indexed from logistic growth curves of self-reported physical development assessed contemporaneously across adolescence and pubertal timing indexed relative to peers assessed retrospectively in adulthood; (2) the associations between the two pubertal timing measures and psychological adjustment; and (3) potential recall biases. Participants were 748 individuals (50.1% female; 91.6% White) from two longitudinal studies who reported on their pubertal development annually from Grades 3-9, psychological adjustment (age at sexual initiation, substance use, depression) in late adolescence, and retrospective pubertal timing in established adulthood (M[subscript age] = 32.76; SD = 4.43). Results indicate moderate-to-high convergence between retrospective and contemporaneous indices. Most participants, especially women, had the same pubertal timing classification (i.e., early, on time, or late), but early-maturing adolescents often recalled on-time development as adults. Retrospective and contemporaneous indices were associated with psychological adjustment in similar ways, with some attenuation in the retrospective measure, especially for men. There was little evidence of recall bias due to age at retrospective assessment or time since puberty. Findings generally support the use of retrospective pubertal timing measures, with the recognition that some relations with adjustment may be weakened. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1502489 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Pubertal development has short- and long-term effects on psychological adjustment. Many studies of long-term effects rely on retrospective measurement of pubertal timing, but such measures often reflect different aspects of puberty than those assessed in adolescence, raising questions about the utility and interpretation of retrospective reports. The present study leveraged longitudinal data collected in adolescence and established adulthood to determine: (1) the correspondence between pubertal timing indexed from logistic growth curves of self-reported physical development assessed contemporaneously across adolescence and pubertal timing indexed relative to peers assessed retrospectively in adulthood; (2) the associations between the two pubertal timing measures and psychological adjustment; and (3) potential recall biases. Participants were 748 individuals (50.1% female; 91.6% White) from two longitudinal studies who reported on their pubertal development annually from Grades 3-9, psychological adjustment (age at sexual initiation, substance use, depression) in late adolescence, and retrospective pubertal timing in established adulthood (M[subscript age] = 32.76; SD = 4.43). Results indicate moderate-to-high convergence between retrospective and contemporaneous indices. Most participants, especially women, had the same pubertal timing classification (i.e., early, on time, or late), but early-maturing adolescents often recalled on-time development as adults. Retrospective and contemporaneous indices were associated with psychological adjustment in similar ways, with some attenuation in the retrospective measure, especially for men. There was little evidence of recall bias due to age at retrospective assessment or time since puberty. Findings generally support the use of retrospective pubertal timing measures, with the recognition that some relations with adjustment may be weakened. |
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| ISSN: | 0012-1649 1939-0599 |
| DOI: | 10.1037/dev0001784 |
