Developmental and individual differences in girls' sex-typed activities in middle childhood and adolescence

Child Dev. 2004 Sep-Oct;75(5):1575-93. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2004.00758.x.

Abstract

Girls' time in sex-typed leisure activities was studied across 2 years in middle childhood (n = 98, M = 8.2 years in Year 1), early adolescence (n = 106, M = 11.7 years), and middle adolescence (n = 86, M = 14.9 years). In annual home interviews, White middle-class girls, mothers, and fathers rated their gendered attitudes, interests, and personality qualities, and saliva samples were used to assess testosterone; activity data were collected in 7 nightly phone interviews. Girls spent more time in feminine than masculine activities except in early adolescence. Girls' and parents' personalities and interests predicted sex-typed activities at each developmental period, but associations between testosterone and activities emerged only in middle childhood.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child Development*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Leisure Activities
  • Male
  • Personality Development*
  • Psychosexual Development*
  • Sexual Behavior / psychology*
  • Social Behavior*