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Pubertal Timing, Exploratory Behavior and Mental Health: A View from a Clinician and Public Health Practitioner

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Brain Crosstalk in Puberty and Adolescence

Part of the book series: Research and Perspectives in Endocrine Interactions ((RPEI,volume 13))

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Abstract

The potential impact of early versus late pubertal timing on adolescent psychological and behavioral development and adjustment has led to interesting but conflicting results. Early- and late-maturing adolescents engage in exploratory/risk behavior differently, as compared with their “on time” peers. This impact is not the same among males and females and probably varies within different environmental contexts. Moreover, we do not clearly understand the origin of such a phenomenon: recent publications tend to indicate that one’s self image representation may have an effect on the behavior of early-maturing females, whereas others suggest that poor psychosocial adjustment may antedate the appearance of puberty among early-maturing adolescents of both sexes. The meaning of these pieces of research should be integrated into the everyday care of adolescents and in the public health area.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Multidisciplinary Unit for Adolescent Health, Lausanne University Hospital – CHUV, Lausanne, Switzerland

    P.-A. Michaud

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  1. P.-A. Michaud
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Correspondence to P.-A. Michaud .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Developmental Neuroendocrinology Unit, G GIGA Neurosciences, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium

    Jean-Pierre Bourguignon

  2. Serv. d'endocrinologie diabetol. pédiatr, Hopital Robert Debre, Paris, Paris, France

    Jean-Claude Carel

  3. Fondation Ipsen, Boulogne-Billancourt, France

    Yves Christen

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Michaud, PA. (2015). Pubertal Timing, Exploratory Behavior and Mental Health: A View from a Clinician and Public Health Practitioner. In: Bourguignon, JP., Carel, JC., Christen, Y. (eds) Brain Crosstalk in Puberty and Adolescence. Research and Perspectives in Endocrine Interactions, vol 13. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09168-6_4

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