Contributions of pubertal timing and adolescent intimate relationships to trajectories of psychological distress: A cohort study

Prior research on how pubertal timing is associated with adolescent psychological distress has remained inconclusive. At the same time, emerging research has begun its attention to the effects of romantic and sexual relationships on adolescent psychological well-being. Much empirical work examines either side of the story using western samples. Yet, a non-western society presents its distinct social and cultural context that may shape the aforementioned factors differently to adolescent distress development. This study seeks to uncover relative influences of pubertal timing versus sexual/romantic relationships on trajectories of psychological distress and aims to understand how gender differences play out in shaping these relationships in Taiwan. Using growth curve modeling based on the longitudinal surveys of Taiwan Youth Project (n=2,595), multivariate analyses suggest early maturity, parental distress, early first dating, and female sex are at greater risks for distress onset. A faster increase in distress over time was associated with parental alcohol misuse and early first sex. These results underscore the contributing roles that biological variables and early sex/romantic involvements play in psychological adjustment over the course from adolescence to young adulthood, independently of aging effects and family backgrounds.