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Early Menarche and Internalizing and Externalizing in Adulthood: Explaining the Persistence of Effects.

ABSTRACT: PURPOSE:Earlier ages at menarche are associated with elevations in internalizing and externalizing that persist into adulthood. The present study examines whether early pubertal timing precipitates experiences during adolescence that account for long-term elevations in depressive symptoms and antisocial behavior among early maturing girls. METHODS:Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent and Adult Health (Add Health), the study examines significant postmenarcheal life events that might mediate associations of age at menarche with depressive symptoms and antisocial behavior in adulthood: teenage criminal arrest, teenage pregnancy and childbearing, high school dropout, and different forms of postpubertal physical and sexual traumatic assault. RESULTS:Results indicate that earlier menarche was associated with greater likelihood of postmenarcheal discontinued education, physical and sexual assault, and teenage pregnancy and childbearing. Discontinued education, physical assault, and sexual assault mediated associations of pubertal timing with adult depressive symptoms; sexual assault mediated associations of pubertal timing with adult antisocial behavior. CONCLUSIONS:Earlier menarche seems to precipitate postpubertal stressful events that, in turn, account for higher rates of psychological problems in adulthood. These results suggest that the adolescent experiences of early maturing girls channel them into life paths where stress, adversity, and other risks to psychological well-being are more likely to be a continuing facet of daily life.

SUBMITTER: Mendle J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6814541 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Early Menarche and Internalizing and Externalizing in Adulthood: Explaining the Persistence of Effects.

Mendle Jane J Ryan Rebecca M RM McKone Kirsten M P KMP

The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine 20190907 5

<h4>Purpose</h4>Earlier ages at menarche are associated with elevations in internalizing and externalizing that persist into adulthood. The present study examines whether early pubertal timing precipitates experiences during adolescence that account for long-term elevations in depressive symptoms and antisocial behavior among early maturing girls.<h4>Methods</h4>Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent and Adult Health (Add Health), the study examines significant postmenarch ...[more]

PMID: 31500947

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Project description:Importance:Although multiple cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have established that sleep problems and behavioral difficulties are associated in children, the directionality of this association and whether sleep problems are differentially associated with different types of childhood behavioral difficulties are unclear. Understanding these associations will inform the focus and timing of interventions. Objective:To determine whether longitudinal and reciprocal associations exist between child sleep problems and externalizing, internalizing, or both behavioral difficulties. Design, Setting, and Participants:Prospective cohort study using nationally representative data from the first 5 waves (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2012) of the kindergarten cohort (4983 children aged 4-5 years in 2004) collected for the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Associations were evaluated using cross-lagged structural equation model analyses performed from May 25, 2016, to September 20, 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures:Child sleep problems and internalizing and externalizing behavioral difficulties. Sleep problems were defined using parent-reported child sleep problem severity and specific difficulties (ie, difficulty getting to sleep at night, not happy sleeping alone, waking during the night, and restless sleep) on 4 or more nights of the week. Child behavioral difficulties were defined using the parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire for externalizing difficulties (conduct problems and hyperactivity/inattention subscales) and internalizing difficulties (emotional problems subscale). Results:The 4983 children enrolled in 2004 had a mean (SD) age of 4.7 (0.2) years and comprised a similar percentage of boys (2536 [50.9%]) and girls. In 2012, 3956 children (79.4%) aged 12 to 13 years were retained. Significant bidirectional associations were detected between sleep problems and externalizing difficulties during the elementary school transition period, with greater sleep problems associated with later externalizing behavior and vice versa (cross-lagged path coefficient, 0.04 [95% CI, 0.01-0.08] to 0.09 [95% CI, 0.06-0.13]). Although sleep was a significant driver of later internalizing difficulties (coefficient, 0.10 [95% CI, 0.07-0.14] to 0.16 [95% CI, 0.12-0.19]), the reverse association was not significant. In the final model that included all 3 constructs, the associations were attenuated but remained significant over time. Conclusions and Relevance:These results suggest that future studies should investigate whether implementing sleep problem intervention decreases the occurrence of both externalizing and internalizing difficulties. Interventions targeting externalizing, but not internalizing, difficulties may benefit childhood sleep.

Dataset Information

Early Menarche and Internalizing and Externalizing in Adulthood: Explaining the Persistence of Effects.

Publications

Early Menarche and Internalizing and Externalizing in Adulthood: Explaining the Persistence of Effects.

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