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Early menarche and childhood adversities in a nationally representative sample
Kimberly L Henrichs1, Heather L McCauley2, Elizabeth Miller2
1University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792-4108, USA.
International Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology
|August 5, 2014
Summary
Childhood adversities, particularly sexual abuse, significantly increase the risk of early menarche (puberty onset by age 11). This finding highlights the impact of adverse childhood experiences on reproductive health and endocrine development.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Endocrinology
- Developmental Psychology
- Public Health Epidemiology
Background:
- Early menarche (onset by age 11) is increasingly prevalent and linked to adverse adult health outcomes.
- Childhood adversities are hypothesized to contribute to the development of early menarche.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between various childhood adversities and the occurrence of early menarche.
- To identify specific adversities most strongly linked to early menarche.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from a nationally representative sample of 3288 women (age 18+).
- Discrete time survival models were used to assess associations between 11 types of childhood adversities and menarche at age 11 or earlier.
- Statistical adjustments were made for age, ethnicity, and body mass index.
Main Results:
- Five of the 11 investigated childhood adversities were significantly associated with early menarche.
- Each of these adversities increased the odds of early menarche by 26% (OR=1.26).
- Childhood sexual abuse showed the strongest association (OR=1.77) and remained significant after accounting for other adversities.
Conclusions:
- Findings support the hypothesis that early childhood family environment influences endocrine development.
- Childhood sexual abuse is a potent risk factor for early menarche.
- The pervasive impact of dysfunctional family environments on early menarche cannot be excluded.
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