The role of perceived relative timing of puberty and psychosocial maturation on the well-being of Asian American young adults

Abstract

The physical changes that accompany puberty and the psychosocial development that occurs during adolescence are both important aspects of maturation. Empirical evidence suggests that these experiences, including peer comparisons, can affect the well-being of individuals into young adulthood. This dissertation examined how the experience of perceived relative pubertal and psychosocial maturation is related to individuals’ young adult experiences, with a particular focus on Asian American females. Study 1 investigated how the perceived relative timing of puberty and psychosocial maturation were related to internalizing symptoms in young adulthood. Data was gathered from 2,286 participants (78.1% female) between the ages of 18 to 25 from all four major racial groups about the perceived relative timing of puberty and psychosocial maturity and internalizing symptoms. Perceived relative timing of psychosocial maturity had a significant association with internalizing symptoms, with the early-maturing group reporting lower internalizing symptoms compared to their on-time and late-maturing peers. For the Asian American/Asian sample only, there were no significant differences across perceived relative pubertal timing groups on internalizing symptoms, but there were nuanced differences in results by domain of psychosocial maturity. Study 2 was an exploratory qualitative study focused on Asian American women, given the lack of existing research on the experiences of Asian American women experiencing puberty and the need for more nuanced knowledge of Asian American experiences to understand the results of Study 1. Twenty Asian American cisgender women between the ages of 18 to 25 completed qualitative interviews about their maturation experiences in adolescence, their perceived relative timing of maturation, and their current well-being and functioning. Five themes were identified: (1) Comparison and Camaraderie with Peers, (2) Provisions by Parents, (3) Adversity Demands Development, (4) Cultural Narratives in Maturation Experiences, and (5) Maturation as an Identity. These themes highlight the unique experiences that Asian American women go through in their maturation experiences and how these experiences may contribute to a mixed picture of how the perceived timing of maturation relates to well-being and mental health in young adulthood. Overall, these findings provide increased knowledge about the role of perceived relative timing in maturation especially in Asian American women. Continued research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and to examine these associations in understudied and marginalized populations where contextual factors may affect these developmental processes (e.g., Asian American males, multiracial individuals, transgender individuals).