Violence and social relational aggression are global problems that become prominent in early adolescence. An extensive literature examines the social contextual and biological influences on violence and antisocial behavior in youth. A potentially important but less studied influence is puberty. Through funding from the MCRI’s Healthy Development theme, we have analysed data from the International Youth Development Study to examine cross-sectional associations between pubertal stage and adolescent violent behavior and social relational aggression. The International Youth Development Study is comprised two state-wide representative samples of students in grades 5, 7 and 9  (N = 5,769) in Washington State in the United States and Victoria, Australia, drawn as a 2-stage cluster sample in each state. The study uses the same methods in each state to conduct a school-administered, self-report student survey measuring behavioral outcomes including past year violent behavior (measured as attacking or beating up another person) and social relational aggression (excluding peers from the group, threatening to spread lies or rumors), as well as a comprehensive range of risk and protective factors and pubertal development. Pubertal was stage associated with higher rates of violent behavior and social relational aggression, with the latter association seen only at younger ages. Puberty is an important phase to implement prevention programs to reduce adolescent violent and antisocial behaviors.

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