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Cited by 28Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormonesEvolutionary Psychology and Human BehaviorAnimal Behavior and Reproduction

Evolutionary fitness as a function of pubertal age in 22 subsistence-based traditional societies

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Hochberg, Ze'ev, Gawlik, Aneta, Walker, Robert S·2011·International Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology
DOI 10.1186/1687-9856-2011-2PMC PMC3159136
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Abstract

CONTEXT: The age of puberty has fallen over the past 130 years in industrialized, western countries, and this fall is widely referred to as the secular trend for earlier puberty. The current study was undertaken to test two evolutionary theories: (a) the reproductive system maximizes the number of offspring in response to positive environmental cues in terms of energy balance, and (b) early puberty is a trade-off response for high mortality rate and reduced resource availability. METHODS: Using a sample of 22 natural-fertility societies of mostly tropical foragers, horticulturalists, and pastoralists from Africa, South America, Australia, and Southeastern Asia, this study compares indices of adolescence growth and menarche with those of fertility fitness in these non-industrial, traditional societies. RESULTS: The average age at menarche correlated with the first reproduction, but did not correlate with the total fertility rate TFR or reproductive fitness. The age at menarche correlated negatively with their average adult body mass, and the average adult body weight positively correlated with reproductive fitness. Survivorship did not correlate with the age at menarche or age indices of the adolescent growth spurt. The population density correlated positively with the age at first reproduction, but not with menarche age, TFR, or reproductive fitness. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our analyses, we reject the working hypotheses that reproductive fitness is enhanced in societies with early puberty or that early menarche is an adaptive response to greater mortality risk. Whereas body mass is a measure of resources is tightly associated with fitness, the age of menarche is not.

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  • In both traditional and modern populations, younger age at menarche predicts earlier first pregnancy as well as higher fecundability.

    “In both traditional and modern populations, younger age at menarche predicts earlier first pregnancy as well as higher fecundability (Guldbrandsen et al., 2014; Hochberg et al., 2011).”

    From Endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome are diametric disorders (2021) · cites this paper as Hochberg et al., 2011

    The Results (‘Adolescent age and reproductive fitness’) report that earlier menarche correlated with earlier first reproduction in the traditional societies studied. They found no correlation between menarcheal age and interbirth interval, total fertility rate, or reproductive fitness; the Discussion also cautions that menarche may not be a good proxy for fecundity. This paper does not establish the claimed relationship in modern populations. (LLM, conf=0.89)

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  • These young parents are strongly supported by older family members, who supply needed food and advice.

    “These young parents are strongly supported by older family members, who supply needed food and advice.”

    From Emerging Adulthood, a Pre-adult Life-History Stage (2020) · cites this paper as [76]

  • In a non-industrial traditional society, a girl who begins to menstruate at age 15 years can take her place in that society at age 19 years as a young mother after a 4-year period of emerging adulthood and be supported by the institutions of marriage and an extended family.

    “In a non-industrial traditional society, a girl who begins to menstruate at age 15 years can take her place in that society at age 19 years as a young mother after a 4-year period of emerging adulthood and be supported by the institutions of marriage and an extended family”

    From Emerging Adulthood, a Pre-adult Life-History Stage (2020) · cites this paper as [76]

  • Despite liberal mores and adolescent sexual activity, early childbearing was uncommon in pre-agricultural societies.

    “Despite liberal mores and adolescent sexual activity, early childbearing was uncommon in pre-agricultural societies.”

    From Emerging Adulthood, a Pre-adult Life-History Stage (2020) · cites this paper as [76]

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Authors
Hochberg, Z., Gawlik, A., & Walker, R. S.
Affiliations
  • Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (IL)
  • Medical University of Silesia (PL)
  • University of Missouri (US)
Corresponding author
Hochberg, Ze'ev
ORCID
Venue
International Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2011-06-21
Volume
2011
Issue
1
Pages
2-2
ISSN
  • 1687-9848 (ISSN-L)
  • 1687-9856
DOI
10.1186/1687-9856-2011-2
PMC
PMC3159136
OpenAlex
W2099148437
Cited by
28
References
28
Citations by year
2025: 5 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 3 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 3
FWCI
2.15
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • International Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
Keywords
age at menarche, puberty onset, reproductive fitness, subsistence societies, pubertal growth spurt, adult body mass, mortality risk, population density, total fertility rate, energy balance

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