The Delinquency, Depression, and Anxiety Level on Timing on Expression of Secondary Sex Characteristics in Adolescents

Seo, Jeong Seok; Cho, Ju Yeon; Lee, Young Sik

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This survey was attempted to examine the psychological significance, such as depression, anxiety and delinquent, of pubertal changes(expressions of secondary sexual characteristics) between student and delinqent group. METHOD: Data were collected through self-report questionnaire survey over a period 12 months. Subjects served for this study consisted of 248 adolescents including 90 delinquent adolescents and 158 student adolescents in Korea, sampled from Korean middle school population and delinquent adolescent population confined in juvenile corrective institutions. The SDS & SAS were used to evaluate the state of depression & anxiety in adolescents, respectively. RESULT: 1) The early-bloomer outnumbered late-bloomer in male delinquent adolescent. 2) There were the significant differences in first experiences of masturbation, expression of pubic hair, expression of axillary hair, expression of facial hair among secondary sexual characteristics between both groups. 3) In student adolescent, there was no significant difference in anxiety, depression level between early-bloomer and late-bloomer. 4) In male delinquent adolescent, late-bloomer was significantly more anxious, depressive than early-bloomer.
CONCLUSION
These findings suggest the rapid pubertal changes during adolescence have effect on delinquency, depression, anxiety, especially male. Furthermore we may assume that this preliminary results will provide useful information in understanding the psychological aspect of adolescents.