Psychological Effects of Physical Maturity Essay Example

Adolescence is a critical stage where several changes happen to a person from childhood to young adulthood. The changes particularly begin physically for both girls and boys. However, there are several studies that show that physical maturation is somewhat earlier in girls, by two years, than with boys. Also, while some adolescence reached physical maturity as early as 12 years old, some takes more or less 15-18 years old before menarche. Late physical maturation has effects on the psychological behavior of an individual.

Sherar and colleagues found out that there is a correlation that exists between physical maturation and rate of physical activities. Their research proves that people who reach physical maturation later than the others are involved in more physical activities than their peers. Boys especially engaged in more 'playful' activities. Paikoff and colleagues (1993) suggested that p