Cited by 320Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormonesEvolutionary Psychology and Human BehaviorChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

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Family environments, adrenarche and sexual maturation: a longitudinal test of a life history model

Ellis, Bruce J, Essex, Marilyn J·2007·Child Development

DOI 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.01092.x

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Abstract

Life history theorists have proposed that humans have evolved to be sensitive to specific features of early childhood environments and that exposure to different environments biases children toward development of different reproductive strategies, including differential pubertal timing. The current research provides a longitudinal test of this theory. Assessments of family environments, based on interviews with mothers and fathers, were conducted in preschool, and children were then followed prospectively through middle childhood. Adrenal hormones were assayed in a selected subsample of 120 children (73 girls) at age 7, and parent and child reports of secondary sexual characteristics were collected in the full female sample of 180 girls at age 11. Higher quality parental investment (from both mothers and fathers) and less father-reported Marital Conflict/Depression forecast later adrenarche. Older age at menarche in mothers, higher socioeconomic status, greater mother-based Parental Supportiveness, and lower third-grade body mass index each uniquely and significantly predicted later sexual development in daughters. Consistent with a life history perspective, quality of parental investment emerged as a central feature of the proximal family environment in relation to pubertal timing.

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“Our decision to use a PCA approach, reducing the number and complexity of the family adversities analyzed, has been used previously (31,32); was driven by our relatively small sample size; and reduced the likelihood of Type I error.”
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“Familial socioeconomic status has not been used in previous research studies as a measure of adverse family background in assessing how family adversity influences girls’ early sexual debut (Belsky et al., 2010; Ellis & Essex, 2007).”
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“Draper and Harpending (1982) and Ellis and Essex (2007) suggested that humans have evolved to be especially sensitive to the external environment during childhood because development during this time affects reproductive success later.”
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Authors: Ellis, B. J., & Essex, M. J.
Affiliations: University of Arizona (US)
University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
Corresponding author: Ellis, Bruce J
ORCID: Ellis, Bruce J
Essex, Marilyn J
Venue: Child Development
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published: 2007-11-01
Volume: 78
Issue: 6
Pages: 1799-1817
ISSN: 0009-3920 (ISSN-L)
1467-8624
DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.01092.x
OpenAlex: W2024429459
Cited by: 320
References: 92
Citations by year: 2026: 4 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 30 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 29 · 2012: 20
FWCI: 14.73
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: academic.oup.com/pages/standard-publication-reuse-rights (vor)
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 2 d)
Locations: Child Development (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH44340, P50-MH 52354, P50MH052354, R01MH044340)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords: adrenarche, pubertal timing, sexual maturation, life history theory, parental investment, family environment, marital conflict, parental depression, socioeconomic status, body mass index, menarche, early childhood, adrenal hormones, secondary sexual characteristics
MeSH terms: Adult, Age Factors, Autonomic Nervous System, Child, Child, Preschool, Depression, Family, Father-Child Relations, Female, Humans, Individuality, Life Change Events, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Prospective Studies, Puberty, Sexual Maturation, Social Environment, Social Support, Body Mass Index, Parenting, Adrenarche, Family Conflict

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Family environments, adrenarche and sexual maturation: a longitudinal test of a life history model

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