Altered Puberty Timing in Recent Decades: Implications for Adolescence-onset Conduct Disorder

Abstract

Introduction

In industrialised countries, the age of puberty onset has substantially diminished over the last 150 years. Several factors, like improved nutrition and health care have contributed to this, but there are concerns about other factors, like obesity, levels of divorce and chemicals. There is an association between early puberty and externalizing disorders in both girls and boys.

Aim

To describe trends in advanced puberty timing and adolescence-onset conduct disorder (CD), analyse if an association exists between both and evaluate which measures can be taken to prevent youth from antisocial activities during adolescence.

Method

A systematic literature review using Medline, Embase and Psycinfo Databases.

Results

Family break-up and increased stress are risk factors for adolescence-onset conduct disorder. Obesity is associated with low SES families, so prevention campaigns giving advice on healthy nutrition may be beneficial. On the general level, there is no clear positive correlation between adolescence-onset CD and early puberty over the last decades as numbers of CD are decreasing.

Conclusion

Potential mental health gains can be obtained to focus on children with multiple risk factors for early puberty. More research is needed to assess, which interventions (diet, advice on body changes, social expectations, etc.) are most useful.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.