Family of origin, age at menarche, and reproductive strategies: A test of four evolutionary-developmental models This research was supported by a grant of the German Research Foundation to JBA(As 59/15-1). View all notes

摘要

Four evolutionary-developmental models within a life history theory framework were compared as to their predictions of the influences of family of origin on age at menarche and differences in reproductive strategies. Predictions of paternal investment theory (Draper & Harpending, 198213. Draper , P. and Harpending , H. 1982 . Father absence and reproductive strategy: An evolutionary perspective . Journal of Anthropological Research , 38 : 255 - 273 . [Web of Science ®], [CSA]View all references), psychosocial acceleration theory (Belsky, Steinberg, & Draper, 19914. Belsky , J. , Steinberg , L. and Draper , P. 1991 . Childhood experience, interpersonal development, and reproductive strategy: An evolutionary theory of socialization . Child Development , 62 : 647 - 670 . [CrossRef], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®], [CSA]View all references), polygyny indication model (Kanazawa, 200129. Kanazawa , S. 2001 . Why father absence might precipitate early menarche: The role of polygyny . Evolution and Human Behavior , 22 : 329 - 334 . [CrossRef], [Web of Science ®], [CSA]View all references), and child development theory (Ellis, 200414. Ellis , B. J. 2004 . Timing of pubertal maturation in girls: An integrated life history approach . Psychological Bulletin , 130 : 920 - 958 . [CrossRef], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®]View all references) were tested by structural equation modelling in an internet study of 439 women between the ages of 18 and 30. Results show that the existence of a father figure has an impact on the age at menarche, which influences the age at first sexual intercourse. The directions of influences confirm the predictions of paternal investment theory (Draper & Harpending, 198213. Draper , P. and Harpending , H. 1982 . Father absence and reproductive strategy: An evolutionary perspective . Journal of Anthropological Research , 38 : 255 - 273 . [Web of Science ®], [CSA]View all references), psychosocial acceleration theory (Belsky et al., 19914. Belsky , J. , Steinberg , L. and Draper , P. 1991 . Childhood experience, interpersonal development, and reproductive strategy: An evolutionary theory of socialization . Child Development , 62 : 647 - 670 . [CrossRef], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®], [CSA]View all references), and child development theory (Ellis, 200414. Ellis , B. J. 2004 . Timing of pubertal maturation in girls: An integrated life history approach . Psychological Bulletin , 130 : 920 - 958 . [CrossRef], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®]View all references), but not the predictions of the polygyny indication model (Kanazawa, 200129. Kanazawa , S. 2001 . Why father absence might precipitate early menarche: The role of polygyny . Evolution and Human Behavior , 22 : 329 - 334 . [CrossRef], [Web of Science ®], [CSA]View all references). No significant associations could be found between age at menarche and other reproductive strategy markers; this supports one of the central assumptions of child development theory (Ellis, 200414. Ellis , B. J. 2004 . Timing of pubertal maturation in girls: An integrated life history approach . Psychological Bulletin , 130 : 920 - 958 . [CrossRef], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®]View all references). Instead, it was the age at first sexual intercourse, influenced by the age at menarche, the existence of a father figure, and participant's educational level, that was most critical for the future reproductive strategies.