RT Journal Article
T1 Testing gender differences in psychological adjustment among early adolescents though a multigroup analysis of latent profiles
A1 Álvarez Voces, María
A1 Villar Torres, Paula
A1 Almón Pazos, Karina
A1 Romero Triñanes, Estrella
K1 Gender differences
K1 Multigroup Analysis of Similarity
K1 Latent profiles
K1 Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire
K1 Psychological adjustment
AB Early adolescence is a crucial period for identifying psychological maladjustment and emerging gender differences. This longitudinal study explores gender differences in psychological maladjustment profiles among early adolescents, incorporating developmental predictors from earlier stages. The sample included 826 early adolescents (50% girls; Mage = 10.72, SD = 0.71) who completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire–Self Report. A multigroup similarity in latent profile solutions was conducted to identify between-gender differences/similarities in latent psychological profiles, and multinomial logistic regressions were used to examine stable early predictors (i.e., parent-reported sociodemographic and temperamental factors) as well as more malleable parent-reported individual variables. Four profiles emerged: Moderately Externalizing, Internalizing, Comorbid, and Normative. Profile mean levels were similar across genders, but boys showed greater variability in prosocial behavior and peer problems. Girls were more likely to belong to the Internalizing and Normative profiles, whereas boys were more often found in the Externalizing and Comorbid ones. Key predictors (i.e., low socioeconomic status, low effortful control, high surgency/extraversion, and high emotional lability) showed similar effects across genders. These findings highlight the need for a nuanced understanding of gender differences in psychosocial adjustment and suggest that early temperament and emotional competences play a significant role in shaping adolescent mental health functioning.
PB Nature
YR 2025
FD 2025-11-24
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10347/44016
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10347/44016
LA eng
NO Álvarez-Voces, M., Villar, P., Almón-Pazos, K., & Romero, E. (2025). Testing gender differences in psychological adjustment among early adolescents though a multigroup analysis of latent profiles. Scientific Reports, 15, 41547. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-25420-7
NO Grant ED431C (2022/17) funded by Xunta de Galicia
NO Grant TED2021-130824B-C22 funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by the European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR
NO Grant from the University Teacher Training Program FPU21/00552 (MAV) funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by FSE +
DS Minerva
RD 28 abr 2026