Boys To Men

 

By Diana Zuckerman, Ph.D.

The early sexual development of girls has received tremendous media attention, but there has been no similar attention to boys. A new study of signs of puberty among boys between 8 and 19 may change that, because it shows that early puberty is also happening among boys.

The data were collected between 1988 and 1996 on 2114 boys who were part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III, known as NHANES III. This survey is conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and represents more than 16 million non-institutionalized boys between 8 and 19. The survey is a major undertaking and this analysis of boys is the first national study of its kind. It’s easy to understand why: parents are unlikely to agree to bring their children to a doctor for a study in which the child must strip naked while the doctor evaluates the development of pubic hair and genitals.

The results are similar to Dr. Herman-Giddens’ earlier study of girls, in that they indicate that boys are starting puberty earlier than previously believed, and that African American children are ahead of other racial groups. As early as 8 years old, 38 percent of the African American boys had started genital development, as had approximately 28 percent of white and Mexican American boys. By age 9, 58 percent of the African American boys and approximately one-third of the white and Mexican American boys had started genital development. Pubic hair started much later, but there were similar racial differences.

The racial differences for girls, although not reported in this study, are even more dramatic, with almost half the African American girls and 15 percent of the white girls showing signs of puberty at age 8.

Although the African American boys start earlier, the white and Mexican American boys catch up by age 13 for this first stage of genital development and by age 14 for starting pubic hair. In fact, at age 14, approximately 5 percent of African American boys were still not showing signs of puberty, which was slightly higher than the other boys.

Most adults think that kids are growing up too fast — much faster than we did — but this study shows that there may be a biological basis, not just a cultural one. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to know for certain, because the only comparable data are from a 1969 study conducted in England. The 1969 study was based on photographs rather than clinical exams, and since all the boys and girls were white and institutionalized, that could have influenced the findings. Nevertheless, it is important to note that, on average, the boys in that study started pubertal development (known as Tanner Stage 2 in the medical lingo) at 11.6 years of age — which is a year and a half later than this new study. The data for girls show a similar earlier start for signs of puberty, but not for menstruation.

As parents, teachers, youth workers, and other adults try to help preteens and young teens steer clear of risky sexual behavior, it is helpful for them to understand that many kids are starting to experience hormonal changes and sexual development in third and fourth grade. These are young children — they are still learning to make change for a dollar and to spell simple words in school. They are not fully developed yet — the statistics are based on the first signs of genital development — but as a result of these changes they may not be thinking or acting like little boys and girls.

The study does not examine the boys’ behavior or adjustment, although previous studies of girls have indicated that early puberty is linked to depression, drug and alcohol use, and early sexual activity. Young kids that look older may tend to hang out with older kids, and may feel a need to prove themselves by acting older. They will need guidance and support from parents and other adults, who need to be aware that despite the physical changes, these are still young children whose judgement is probably not as mature as their appearance.

This article describes a study entitled “Secondary Sexual Characteristics in Boys” by Marcia Herman-Giddens, DrPH, Lily Wang, MS, and Gary Koch, Ph.D., Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, Vol 155, Sept 2001, 1022-28.