Tweens to Teens Project at Penn State

"Gender Development in Early Adolescence: Prenatal Hormones and Family Socialization"

The goal of this study is to help investigators to understand more about the development of characteristics related to being male or female (what is called gender development). The investigators will study girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) aged 10 to 13 to learn more about the girls' interests and activities, thoughts and feeling about being female, and family relationships. This will help investigators to understand the ways in which gender development is shaped by hormones and family relationships.

Interviewers will visit girls in their home when it is convenient for the family. Girls will answer questions about the things they do and are interested in, how they think and feel, and complete some cognitive tasks. Girls will also provide saliva so we can examine their hormones and determine the CAH gene mutation they have. Parents will also be asked to complete questionnaires about their own activities and interests and about their daughter's behavior.

Shortly after the home visit, interviewers will telephone girls and their parents on several days and ask what the girls did during the day.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Girls with classical or non-classical CAH due to 21-OHD
• Girls will be aged 10-13 years at initial recruitment
• Parents will include biological mothers and fathers as well as step-parents and/or other guardians/significant caregivers
• Parents/guardians may range in age from 18 years of age to 65 years of age.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Girls who are not within the age range of 10-13 years old at initial recruitment
• CAH not due to the 21-OHD form