Final answer:
Young people with early pubertal development and low self-esteem are likely to engage in riskier sexual behaviors and substance use, influenced by factors like peer pressure and the unique processing of risks and rewards in the adolescent brain.
Step-by-step explanation:
Young people with early pubertal development and low self-esteem scores tend to take more sexual risks, more often use drugs, and commit more delinquent acts than their age mates. Early pubertal development can lead to a greater risk for substance abuse and early sexual activity. At the same time, low self-esteem, which may stem from late pubertal development and feeling physically inferior to peers, can exacerbate these risks. During adolescence, the ability to evaluate risks and rewards matures, yet teens may still engage in riskier behaviors than adults, driven by social rewards and peer pressure. This is partly due to the ongoing development of the adolescent brain, which processes rewards and risks differently compared to children and adults.