Kiss and Tell: What Do We Know About Pre- and Early Adolescent Females Who Report Dating? A Pilot Study

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.