A longitudinal study of pubertal timing and tempo on body shame among young adolescent girls and boys

Sicilia, Á, Griffiths, MD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8880-6524 and Martín-Albo, J, 2024. A longitudinal study of pubertal timing and tempo on body shame among young adolescent girls and boys. Sex Roles. ISSN 0360-0025

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Abstract

Objectification theory posits that puberty is likely to be a critical stage for experiencing body shame. Past research on experiences during puberty has largely focused on the association between pubertal timing (i.e., the onset of the process of physical maturation and sexual development) and physical and/or psychological health problems among adolescent girls, whereas less research has considered pubertal tempo (i.e., the rate of physical maturation and sexual development during puberty) among girls and boys and its association with body image variables. Using growth curve models, the present study examined whether pubertal tempo and pubertal timing predicted body shame at three equidistant data collection time-points over a two-year period in a sample of 755 early adolescent boys and girls from Spain (377 girls and 378 boys; Mage = 11.49; SD = 0.67 at Time 1). Although participants, particularly boys, showed a decline in body shame in their transition to adolescence, early maturing girls (i.e., body hair, skin changes, breast growth, and menstruation) were especially vulnerable to experiencing body shame. Boys with a slower rate of pubertal change in body hair and facial hair (beard) growth were also vulnerable to experiencing body shame. Findings showed the different role that pubertal timing and tempo appeared to have among boys and girls in predicting body shame and, in line with the gendered deviation hypothesis, suggests important gender differences in experiencing atypical pubertal development for body image.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Sex Roles
Creators:	Sicilia, Á., Griffiths, M.D. and Martín-Albo, J.
Publisher:	Springer
Date:	29 October 2024
ISSN:	0360-0025
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1007/s11199-024-01537-3 DOI 2268481 Other
Rights:	This version of the article has been accepted for publication, after peer review (when applicable) and is subject to Springer Nature’s AM terms of use, but is not the Version of Record and does not reflect post-acceptance improvements, or any corrections. The Version of Record is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-024-01537-3
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Jonathan Gallacher
Date Added:	29 Oct 2024 17:14
Last Modified:	29 Oct 2024 17:14
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/52479

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