Daughters brought up without a biological father begin to mature earlier. However, this only applies to girls from richer homes, according to an American study reported by the Journal of Adolescent Health.
In recent decades, the sexual maturation age of girls from Western countries has been systematically decreasing. Research, the results of which were published a month ago, have shown, for example, that 15 percent of American girls’ breasts begin to grow as early as age 7.
Early puberty in girls is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer and other cancers of the reproductive system in adulthood, as well as with other conditions such as asthma and risky behavior such as early sexual contact and drug use.
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley analyzed data on 444 girls between the ages of six and eight, 80 of whom did not live with their biological father. During the next two years, information was collected on the symptoms of girls’ puberty before the onset of the first menstruation.
It turned out that daughters raised without a biological dad and coming from wealthy homes started to grow breasts faster than other peers. African-American girls also had earlier pubic hair growth.
These relationships persisted even when body weight was taken into account, as it is known that thicker girls mature earlier. Also, the presence of other adult males in the home, including the stepfather, had no effect on the results.
The age at which girls begin puberty has been systematically decreasing in recent decades, but the main reason for this trend is the increase in children’s body weight – comments Julianna Deardorff, who leads the study. Meanwhile, her team’s latest results indicate that family factors may also have a significant impact on girls’ early maturation.
For now, scientists cannot explain their observations. Evolutionists had previously put forward the theory that the lack of a biological father could be a signal for a daughter’s organism about the instability of the family, which is why it accelerates puberty so that the girl could become independent sooner.
It is also unknown why the lack of a biological father affects early puberty only in girls from wealthy homes.
According to a quite controversial theory, it may be that single mothers with better earnings have to work longer and do not have time for their daughters. Recent studies suggest that the weak bond of girls with their mothers is a factor that increases the risk of early puberty. (PAP)