THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PRECOCIOUS PUBERTY AND SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION AMONG PREADOLESCENT GIRLS

Abstract

This article sought to establish the relationship between precocious puberty and symptoms of depression among preteen-age girls in primary schools in Kiambu County, Kenya. The study employed both correlational and comparative research designs to achieve the study objectives and was guided by the psychosocial theory of human development. A total of 442-, 11- and 12-year-old girls, and 12 female class teachers from 13 schools participated in the study. Primary data was collected using questionnaires, focus group discussions, and structured interviews. The instruments were pilot-tested on 36-, 11- and 12-year-old girls and 3 class teachers from 3 schools within Kiambu County, who were omitted from the actual study. The quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (version 26) and NVivo version 12 respectively and the analyzed data was presented using tables and figures. Statistical analyses showed that there was a significant relationship (β=0.00, P=0.00) between precocious puberty and symptoms of depression among preteen-age girls in primary schools in Kiambu County, indicating that early maturity significantly affected the emotional functioning of preadolescent girls. The researchers recommend that teachers, therapists, parents, and other stakeholders work together to find better ways of taking care of early-maturing girls, as a way of preventing depressive symptoms and their adverse effects on the well-being of the developing girls.