Study objective: To evaluate the implications of dating in pre- and early adolescent females.
Design: Cross-sectional survey.
Setting: Child psychiatry clinic; pediatric clinic; family clinic.
Participants: Pre- and early adolescent females (n = 80) aged 11-14 and their parents.
Intervention: Pre- and early adolescent females aged 11-14 and a parent were recruited during a regular clinic visit. Pre- and early adolescent females completed a survey that included measures of dating; sensation seeking; lifetime individual and peer drug use; Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder symptoms; and onset of menses. Parents were asked similar questions about their child's dating behaviors and peer relationships.
Main outcome measure: Association of early dating with individual and peer drug use, sensation seeking, aggressive behavior, and onset of menses.
Results: In pre- and early adolescent females, dating regularly is associated with nicotine and alcohol use, sensation seeking, and aggressive behavior. Dating regularly is also associated with onset of menses and a younger age of onset of menses in those who had started menstruating. Parents under-report their child's dating practices and associated high-risk behaviors.
Conclusion: Early dating is associated with nicotine and alcohol use, sensation seeking, aggressive behavior, and early onset of menses in adolescent females. Questions about early dating are a simple and efficient way to open inquiry of both parents and children about high-risk behaviors in the clinic setting.