ABSTRACT
Adolescence is the phase in the life cycle that is associated with reaching sexual and social maturation, consequently designated as a biosocial stage of development. The processes operating in adolescence are complex and multifaceted, involving both childhood reminiscences and future adult behaviors. They emerge as the consequence of the interplay of biological factors, cognitive–experiential processes, feelings and motivational factors, social relations, and environmental factors, both proximal and distal. In the pursuit of an understanding of the role of physical maturation for psychosocial transition in adolescence, the authors propose and test, within the framework of an interactional model, various developmental progressions through adolescence that are affected by variations in pubertal timing. Characteristic of physical growth in adolescence is the rapidity with which it occurs and the wide range of effects it has on the body.
