Review article
Transitions in Body and Behavior: A Meta-Analytic Study on the Relationship Between Pubertal Development and Adolescent Sexual Behavior

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2014.11.019Get rights and content

Abstract

The present meta-analysis studies the relations of pubertal timing and status with sexual behavior and sexual risk behavior among youth aged 10.5–22.4 years. We included biological sex, age, and ethnicity as potential moderators. Four databases were searched for studies (published between 1980 and 2012) on the relation between pubertal timing or status and sexual behavior. The outcomes were (1) sexual intercourse; (2) combined sexual behavior; and (3) risky sexual behavior. Earlier pubertal timing or more advanced pubertal status was related to earlier and more sexual behavior, and earlier pubertal timing was related to more risky sexual behavior. Further, the links between (1) pubertal status and combined sexual behavior and (2) pubertal timing and sexual intercourse status, combined sexual behavior, and risky sexual behavior were stronger for girls than boys. Most links between pubertal status, timing, and sexual behavior and sexual risk behavior were stronger for younger adolescents. Moderation by ethnicity did not yield consistent results. There was significant variation in results among studies that was not fully explained by differences in biological sex, age, and ethnicity. Future research is needed to identify moderators that explain the variation in effects and to design sexual health interventions for young adolescents.

Section snippets

The present study

The primary objective of the present meta-analysis is to examine and quantify the association between pubertal status and timing with sexual behavior and risky sexual behavior. With this meta-analysis, we answer the following questions: Within the research literature published between 1980 and 2012, are pubertal timing and status related to sexual behavior and sexual risk behavior? If related, is this relation moderated by the way pubertal development is assessed (pubertal status or pubertal

Sample of studies

We searched four electronic databases (Scopus, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and PsycINFO) using variations and Boolean connectors of the key terms such as pubertal development, menarche, spermarche, spermatogenesis, breast development, adrenarche, gonadarche, oogenesis, adolescents, and sexual behavior. To supplement these searches, we searched reference lists of reviewed studies and contacted key authors in the field. To be included in the meta-analysis, studies had to be: (1) published in a

Description of studies: overview of included studies

Initially, 70 studies were found. In total, 50 independent studies met the inclusion criteria, with a total of 112 effect sizes. Table 1 presents the included studies across the separate meta-analyses. Samples included a total of 87,334 adolescents (min = 41, max = 5,700). The mean ages of the adolescents in these studies ranged from 10.5 to 22.4 years, with an overall mean of 15.10 years (standard deviation, 2.82). Of the included effect sizes, 51 were all girl samples, 32 were all boy

Discussion

With the present study, we show the first meta-analytical results of the relation between pubertal development and adolescent sexual behavior. Our results indicated that those adolescents with an early pubertal timing engaged in earlier, more advanced, and more risky sexual behavior. Also, those adolescents with a more advanced pubertal status engaged in earlier and more advanced sexual behavior.

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