B3596 - Pubertal development and psychobiological health - 14/08/2020
During adolescence there are changes in how adolescents experience and regulate their emotions, and this is related, in part by changes in the body related to puberty and development of the neuroendocrine system. These changes can begin at different ages for people, and can also be influenced by the general physical health of the person, as well as their life experience of stress, social relationships and learning opportunities. Physical health influences psychosocial development in several ways, and there is an accumulation of evidence that biomarkers of physical health, including markers of inflammation, cortisol levels, and other indicators of stress, influences when, and how, adolescents develop skills in emotional regulation and stress management. There is a related body of evidence that puberty, inflammation and stress interact to influence emotional experience in childhood and adolescence, and may influence mood, and the risk of mod disorders, for example anxiety and depression. Much of the research on the psychobiological predictors, correlates and consequences of mood and behaviour have been done with adults, and so there is still much to know about if and how adolescent development may be influenced by inflammation, biomarkers of stress and experiences, and further, how these interactions may be influenced by pubertal development.