The Psychological Significance of Different Pubertal Events to Young Girls

Abstract

The psychological significance of puberty to the adolescent girl is discussed in terms of the organism's ability to adapt to change. The occurrence of pubertal events is believed by many to signal a change in self-identity or a need for such a change, given that social role changes co-occur with physical changes. In this paper, four issues related to this premise are discussed-whether or not pubertal events elicit a great deal of stress and anxiety or more variable response patterns; whether they have short-term and/or long-term impact upon the adolescent; whether pubertal changes result in different information being transmitted; and whether rapid change results in heightened sensitivity to contextual cues. Literature on menarche is used to illustrate the usefulness of asking these questions. Then, the psychological significance of other, less frequently studied, pubetal events is discussed. Data are presented on girls' reactions to breast development, particularly in terms of their responses to being teased. Implications for understanding the significance of different pubertal events are discussed.