The psychology of puberty: What aren’t we studying that we should?
Abstract
Abstract In the past half-century, developmentalists have produced a rich, diverse, and substantial literature on the psychology of puberty, establishing the transition from childhood to adolescence as one of the most pivotal phases of life. In this article, we identify three domains of research on puberty that are prime for new scientific inquiry: (a) hormones, (b) cohort trends, and (c) alternative measures and methods. Although these areas differ from each other in concept, scientific implementation, and ramifications for research, they are alike in their potential to advance developmental science and to strengthen theories, concepts, and understanding of this period of psychological change.
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Gonadarcheal development fosters maturation into a sexual being, incorporating social processes such as negotiating sexual feelings, sensitivity to status, intimate friendships, and romantic relationships.
“Meanwhile, gonadarcheal development fosters maturation into a sexual being, which incorporates a broader suite of social processes such as negotiating sexual feelings, sensitivity to status, intimate friendships, and romantic relationships.(34,135)”
From Puberty Initiates Cascading Relationships Between Neurodevelopmental, Social, and Internalizing Processes Across Adolescence (2021) · cites this paper as [34]
Although sexual reproduction can be considered the ultimate evolutionary target of pubertal development, reproductive success encompasses a much broader range of social processes than sexual reproductive capacity per se.
“Importantly, although sexual reproduction can be considered the ultimate evolutionary target of pubertal development, reproductive success encompasses a much broader range of social processes than sexual reproductive capacity per se.(34,135)”
From Puberty Initiates Cascading Relationships Between Neurodevelopmental, Social, and Internalizing Processes Across Adolescence (2021) · cites this paper as [34]
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Pfeifer, J. H., & Allen, N. B. (2021) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.09.002 · Cited by 411 · see citing works
- Authors
- Mendle, J., & Koch, M. K.
- Affiliations
- Cornell University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Mendle, Jane
- Venue
- Child Development Perspectives
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2019-08-09
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 166-172
- ISSN
- 1750-8592 (ISSN-L)
- 1750-8606
- OpenAlex
- W2954601054
- Cited by
- 16
- References
- 52
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 1.46
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Child Development Perspectives (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Psychology of Development and Education
- Keywords
- puberty, adolescence, transition from childhood to adolescence, sex hormones, cohort trends
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