Timing and Tempo of Puberty and Neurodevelopment Following Adversity: A Registered Report

Theoretical models suggest that stress exposure may influence the pace of development, though empirical findings are mixed. Some research links adversity to delays in brain and pubertal development, while other studies find accelerated maturation. We will use seven waves of data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study (n = 11,868) to examine associations between adversity and the timing and tempo of pubertal and brain development, as well as working memory. We hypothesize that higher adversity will predict more advanced pubertal and brain maturation at baseline, which will in turn be associated with higher working memory. Pubertal timing and tempo will be modeled using logistic growth curves, while subcortical and cortical gray matter volume (GMV) intercepts and slopes will be estimated via latent growth curve models. Structural equation modeling will test how adversity relates to pubertal and GMV trajectories, and their associations with working memory. Separate models will be estimated for males and females. These analyses aim to advance understanding of how adversity shapes variability in developmental trajectories, with implications for supporting and optimizing healthy adolescent development.