Final answer:
At puberty, girls are more likely to experience a greater increase in depressive symptoms compared to boys, which is linked to hormonal changes and societal pressures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The behavioral change seen more in girls than in boys at puberty is a greater increase in depressive symptoms. Hormonal changes during puberty can affect mood and behavior, leading to a higher risk of depression in adolescent girls compared to boys. Girls experience pubertal changes such as menstruation, which can also contribute to this increased vulnerability to depressive symptoms.
During puberty, girls undergo a variety of changes due to shifts in hormone levels. The surge in estrogen and other hormones can influence emotional regulation and stress responses, which can manifest as an increased rate of depressive symptoms. Additionally, societal pressures and body image issues during puberty can exacerbate feelings of depression in girls.
Conversely, boys are more likely to experience an increase in aggressive behavior and dominance seeking, while girls tend to internalize emotional distress, contributing to higher rates of depression. Sociocultural factors also play a role in behavioral differences between genders during puberty.