In moving beyond establishing the main effects of pubertal timing on substance use and family functioning, the contextual amplification hypothesis proposes an interplay between social processes (e.g. parenting behaviour; neighbourhood) and the pubertal transition that heightens risk for adjustment problems (Ge, Brody, Conger, Simons, & McBride, 2002). Specifically, previous research has shown that pubertal timing and contextual influences (parenting practises; disadvantaged neighbourhoods) interact to place early maturing children at increased risk of deviant peer affiliation and externalising problems (Ge et al., 2002; Ge, Conger & Elder, 1996). In the context of family relations, early maturation has been hypothesised to sensitise children to variations in parent mood and behaviour. For example, the effects of father-child hostility on psychological distress were more evident for early maturing girls relative to on-time and late-maturing girls (Ge et al., 1996). Similarly, early maturing children who experienced harsh and inconsistent parental discipline were more likely to affiliate with deviant peers and to exhibit externalising problems (Ge et al., 2002).
