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Effects of Pubertal Timing on Communication Behaviors and Stress Reactivity in Young Women During Conflict Discussions with their Mothers

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Abstract

Individuation, a process whereby adolescents gain autonomy from their parents while maintaining emotional relatedness, is displayed by characteristic styles of verbal exchanges. Negotiating this developmental transition is often stressful for adolescents and their parents. This study deals with the association between pubertal timing, communication behaviors, and stress reactivity assessed during young females’ conflict discussions with their mothers. A sample of N = 32 girls (age 9–13, T1) was grouped by pubertal timing. Years later (age 17–22, T2) they were followed up and videotapes of daughter–mother conflict discussions were evaluated. Salivary alpha-amylase was used to assess the stress reactivity. Results revealed that young women who had entered puberty early were higher in striving for control and separation in interactions with their mothers, and displayed higher stress levels. These results pointed to less successful individuation in late adolescence/young adulthood compared to on-time and late maturing age mates.

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Notes

  1. Additional analyses revealed only weak and non-significant correlations between communication behaviors and change in A-A of the daughters during the conflict discussion with their mothers (i.e., Confidence in Stating Opinion r = −.06, Rejection r = −.16, Power r = .21, Suggesting Input r = .25, Attempting Resolutions r = −.03, Warmth r = −.06, and Receptiveness r = .16). This suggests that a rather general stress reaction induced by the conflict discussion with the mother is captured by A-A. This stress may be caused by earlier experiences within the family system (e.g., high behavioral control of the parents) triggered within the communication situation.

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by the Ministry of Science, Research and Culture of the Federal State of Thuringia, Germany (P.I.: Rainer K. Silbereisen & Wolfgang M. Miltner: “Biopsychosocial Mechanisms of the Development of Problem Behavior in Girls during Puberty and Adolescence”, B301 96060), and the Center for Applied Developmental Science (CADS; Director: Rainer K. Silbereisen) at the University of Jena, Germany.

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  1. Department of Developmental Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Jena, Am Steiger 3/1, 07743, Jena, Germany

    Karina Weichold & Rainer K. Silbereisen

  2. Hospital Weinsberg, Weinsberg, Germany

    Sabine Büttig

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  1. Karina Weichold
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  2. Sabine Büttig
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Correspondence to Karina Weichold.

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Weichold, K., Büttig, S. & Silbereisen, R.K. Effects of Pubertal Timing on Communication Behaviors and Stress Reactivity in Young Women During Conflict Discussions with their Mothers. J Youth Adolescence 37, 1123–1133 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-007-9260-9

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