Title of Research
Self-Concept of Precocious Puberty Among Girls and the Link to Risky Behavior: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW
Start Date
17-11-2017 10:00 AM
End Date
17-11-2017 11:30 AM
Abstract
Background: Several studies show that early-onset pubertal development is occurring sooner than ever before in female adolescents. While this is problematic in and of itself, concerns about the impact of precocious puberty on young girls include a possible link to detrimental outcomes, including deviant behavior and self-esteem issues.
Objective: The purpose of this literature review is to synthesize the research on precocious puberty by answering the following research questions: How does precocious puberty influence adolescent girls’ perception of self-concept? What risky behaviors are prevalent among girls who experience precocious puberty?
Methods: Articles were found using CINAHL, ProQuest Nursing, and PubMed. Many terms were used in a combination of searches, including puberty, early-onset puberty, precocious puberty, self-concept, girls, adolescent girls, young women, behavior, risky behavior, psychosocial, depression, anxiety, sexual, substance abuse, drugs, and alcohol. Peer reviewed studies included in the integrative literature review were published in the English language within the last 10 years.
Results: After examining the literature, the following themes were found to be relevant: dominant themes in self-concept included feeling different, internalizing problems, depression, maladaptive coping behaviors, and distorted self-concept and perception about their body image and breast development. Precocious puberty seemed to have a significant impact on risk-taking behaviors, including higher levels of problematic behaviors, physical aggression, delinquency, earlier age of first time alcohol/drug use, earlier age of first sexual experience, multiple sex partners, criminality, and teenage pregnancy.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that precocious puberty has many physical, psychosocial and emotional implications on adolescent girls. Further research is needed to explore the relationship between precocious puberty and to clarify its effects on self-concept and risk-taking behavior.
Included in
Self-Concept of Precocious Puberty Among Girls and the Link to Risky Behavior: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW
Background: Several studies show that early-onset pubertal development is occurring sooner than ever before in female adolescents. While this is problematic in and of itself, concerns about the impact of precocious puberty on young girls include a possible link to detrimental outcomes, including deviant behavior and self-esteem issues.
Objective: The purpose of this literature review is to synthesize the research on precocious puberty by answering the following research questions: How does precocious puberty influence adolescent girls’ perception of self-concept? What risky behaviors are prevalent among girls who experience precocious puberty?
Methods: Articles were found using CINAHL, ProQuest Nursing, and PubMed. Many terms were used in a combination of searches, including puberty, early-onset puberty, precocious puberty, self-concept, girls, adolescent girls, young women, behavior, risky behavior, psychosocial, depression, anxiety, sexual, substance abuse, drugs, and alcohol. Peer reviewed studies included in the integrative literature review were published in the English language within the last 10 years.
Results: After examining the literature, the following themes were found to be relevant: dominant themes in self-concept included feeling different, internalizing problems, depression, maladaptive coping behaviors, and distorted self-concept and perception about their body image and breast development. Precocious puberty seemed to have a significant impact on risk-taking behaviors, including higher levels of problematic behaviors, physical aggression, delinquency, earlier age of first time alcohol/drug use, earlier age of first sexual experience, multiple sex partners, criminality, and teenage pregnancy.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that precocious puberty has many physical, psychosocial and emotional implications on adolescent girls. Further research is needed to explore the relationship between precocious puberty and to clarify its effects on self-concept and risk-taking behavior.