Age of menarche : the role of some psychosocial factors
Romans, Sarah E.
Age of menarche : the role of some psychosocial factors Romans, Sarah E.; Martin, J. M.; Gendall, Kelly A.; Herbison, G. P. - Cambridge Cambridge University Press 2003 - Psychological Medicine .
Psychological Medicine 33(5) July 2003 : 933-939
This article discusses a study that examined the associations between the age of first menarche (first menstrual period) and adverse childhood experiences in a random community sample of New Zealand women. The study was part of a larger investigation into the effects of childhood sexual abuse on adult psychosocial and health parameters in women. Methodology included the responses of two groups of women to a mailed questionnaire and interviews. Data about their childhood experiences, including age of first menarche, were collected on two occasions: the first in 1989, and the second in 1995. Analysis of the data reported here took place retrospectively, using predominantly1989 data. It was noted that previous research had linked early menarche to absence of a live-in father figure and to family conflict. The dataset allowed the analysis of various variables describing the subjects' childhood experience that could confound the absence of a father. The results of the study indicate that parental rows, being a loner, and the duration of childhood sexual abuse are the most important factors preceding early menarche, although the lack of a father and any childhood sexual abuse were each also independently associated. Although the study confirms the importance of father absence, the results are not able to select between childhood abuse experiences and this factor. The authors conclude that chronic or protracted childhood sexual abuse are variables that warrant further investigation when researching factors associated with early onset menarche.
xxk
0033-2917
CHILD ABUSE
FAMILIES
HEALTH
NEGLECT
PHYSICAL ABUSE
STATISTICS
WOMEN
ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES
SEXUAL VIOLENCE
NEW ZEALAND
Age of menarche : the role of some psychosocial factors Romans, Sarah E.; Martin, J. M.; Gendall, Kelly A.; Herbison, G. P. - Cambridge Cambridge University Press 2003 - Psychological Medicine .
Psychological Medicine 33(5) July 2003 : 933-939
This article discusses a study that examined the associations between the age of first menarche (first menstrual period) and adverse childhood experiences in a random community sample of New Zealand women. The study was part of a larger investigation into the effects of childhood sexual abuse on adult psychosocial and health parameters in women. Methodology included the responses of two groups of women to a mailed questionnaire and interviews. Data about their childhood experiences, including age of first menarche, were collected on two occasions: the first in 1989, and the second in 1995. Analysis of the data reported here took place retrospectively, using predominantly1989 data. It was noted that previous research had linked early menarche to absence of a live-in father figure and to family conflict. The dataset allowed the analysis of various variables describing the subjects' childhood experience that could confound the absence of a father. The results of the study indicate that parental rows, being a loner, and the duration of childhood sexual abuse are the most important factors preceding early menarche, although the lack of a father and any childhood sexual abuse were each also independently associated. Although the study confirms the importance of father absence, the results are not able to select between childhood abuse experiences and this factor. The authors conclude that chronic or protracted childhood sexual abuse are variables that warrant further investigation when researching factors associated with early onset menarche.
xxk
0033-2917
CHILD ABUSE
FAMILIES
HEALTH
NEGLECT
PHYSICAL ABUSE
STATISTICS
WOMEN
ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES
SEXUAL VIOLENCE
NEW ZEALAND