Precocious Puberty and Delayed Puberty: Impact on Indian Adolescent Girls

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Page: 733-738

Ruchi Dubey Chaturvedi, Freyana Shinde, Tanvi Bhansali, Yana Mehta, and Kani Mehta (Department of Psychology, Jai Hind College (Empowered Autonomous), Mumbai, Maharashtra)

Puberty involves transitions on multiple fronts, including physical, emotional, psychological, and social aspects. Puberty comes with its own set of challenges and consequences, more so for adolescents who experience either precocious puberty or delayed puberty. To explore the experiences of Indian adolescent girls who have experienced either early or late puberty. Qualitative analysis using a semi-structured, open-ended interview schedule. 6 Indian adolescent girls, aged between 19 and 20 years. Out of these, 3 had experienced early puberty and 3 late puberty. Age of onset of puberty impacted the participants in significant ways. Those who experienced early puberty reported low self-esteem and high social isolation, relative to those who had experienced late puberty. The peer members of the former group did not share the physical and emotional transitions that they were undergoing. So, these participants were made to feel like out-group members and kept alienated by their peers. However, this group was offered more freedom and liberty by their families. This reflects Indian culture’s receptivity towards puberty and how it collates puberty with overall maturation. This group was occasionally indulging in some risky behaviours. Both groups were matched in using more emotional coping mechanisms, and their romantic inclinations and interpersonal attractions had remained unaffected by the onset of puberty. To ensure adolescents’ smooth course into puberty, school curriculum and psychoeducation should enhance overall understanding about puberty-related transitions. Multiple support systems should sensitively relate to the issues of adolescents, especially with those whose experience Precocious Puberty or Delayed Puberty.