Psychosocial Characteristics of Precocious Puberty in Korean Girls

Abstract

The study compared body image and levels of self-esteem and depression between girls with precocious puberty and typical girls, identifying relationships between variables. Data were collected from July until August 2014. Study participants were first-to fourthyear female students in the D region who were diagnosed with precocious puberty in E university hospital and typical students in the same grades in the same region. The participants included 125 female students with precocious puberty and 176 typical students. Parents of both groups of females also participated. Using propensity score matching, 94 girls with precocious puberty and 94 typical girls were selected and their data were analyzed.The study used a body image scale called the Rosenberg's Self-esteem Scale, a tool to measure self-esteem, in addition to the Children's Depression Inventory. Collected data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 21.0 program.There was a significant difference in body image (t=4.78, p<.001), self-esteem (t=3.81, p<.001), and depression (t=-3.32, p=.001) between the two groups.The two groups showed that body image had a positive correlation with self-esteem and self-esteem had a negative correlation with depression. The analysis of girls with precocious puberty showed that body image had a negative correlation with depression, but typical girls showed that body image had a no correlation with depression. The study indicates the necessity for health education at home and school to help girls with precocious puberty perceive their body image in a positive way so that they can achieve healthy growth and development. In addition, this study can be used as a basis for understanding children with precocious puberty and for developing nursing interventions to promote psychosocialhealth.

Self-consciousness and depression in precocious pubertal children

“…17 Early puberty is associated with mainly negative perceptions of physical appearance and often with negative emotions toward the self. 19 Pubertal changes in physical appearance may cause feelings of shame, frustration or insecurity; these feelings may increase isolation and interfere with peer and family relationships. 2,17 We found that children with PP scored significantly higher on the DSRS-C items of Look forward to things, Always want to cry, Have self-confidence, and Feel lonely.…”

“…These results are in accordance with previous studies on PP. 2 , 4 PP is characterized by fear and shame caused by ‘early penis enlargement and breast enlargement and increased vaginal secretions, and even menstruation.’ 4 Children with PP feel different from their peers, experience dissatisfaction with their body shape 19 and experience unhappiness and anxiety because of these differences.…”

“…2,4 PP is characterized by fear and shame caused by 'early penis enlargement and breast enlargement and increased vaginal secretions, and even menstruation.' 4 Children with PP feel different from their peers, experience dissatisfaction with their body shape 19 and experience unhappiness and anxiety because of these differences. We found that children with PP had higher total DSRS-C scores than children with normal puberty.…”

Body satisfaction and Depression Symptoms among Children with Precocious Puberty in Baghdad City

“…The present result agreed with previous studies that, children with precocious puberty showed advanced growth parameters and bone age ( 11, 12 & 22) , which may caused negative body image, low self esteem behavioural and psychological disorders (7, 9 12) . A previous study concerned about psychosocial characteristics of (100) child diagnosed with precocious puberty aged (6-9) year in Korea, children with pp showed high score of body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem and depression signs than normal developing children at the same age (16) . While a study coincided with the present finding in their study about body image and depression of (82) girls diagnosed with pp that, early puberty mostly lead to negative body image, low self esteem and usually correlated with negative feeling and behaviors about themselves.…”