Abstract
Purpose: A relationship between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and early menarche previously has been proposed and psychobiological mechanisms for the association have been suggested. Because it has serious implications for many disciplines, we attempted to confirm that association and explore its direction, first with hypothesis 1: the negative relationship between pubertal age and CSA is based on victims' increased target gratifiability at ages of high target vulnerability, and then with hypothesis 2: CSA and circumstances surrounding it are related causally to early menarche. Methods: African-American and multi-ethnic Caucasian women (N = 323) were interviewed at several women's clinics at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center; 64 women reported premenarcheal abuse. We assessed (1) ages of CSA and menarche to determine their relationships, (2) household characteristics and their relationships with CSA, (3) variables associated with CSA, to determine the independent effect of CSA and explore potential dose response (i.e., effects of increased stress). Results: CSA and menarcheal age are related negatively (p <.05). Hypothesis 1 need not be rejected totally, but with most CSA events occurring long before puberty, hypothesis 2 is supported. Theoretically, stressful CSA characteristics increase victim/nonvictim differences in menarcheal age. Stress may derive from household characteristics often related to CSA but, even controlling for them, CSA has independent effects on menarcheal age. Conclusions: Hypothesis 1 may apply when CSA occurs within 2 years premenarche but, because hypothesis 2 is supported, continuing psychobiological effects and stress engendered by CSA are underscored. Mechanisms through which they impact the developing child require further exploration, and medical and psychological attention.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 393-400 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Adolescent Health |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 2005 |
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Keywords
- Childhood sexual abuse
- Early maturation
- Menarche
- Stress
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
Cite this
Childhood sexual abuse and early menarche : The direction of their relationship and its implications. / Zabin, Laurie Schwab; Emerson, Mark Ross; Rowland, David L.
In: Journal of Adolescent Health, Vol. 36, No. 5, 05.2005, p. 393-400.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Childhood sexual abuse and early menarche
T2 - The direction of their relationship and its implications
AU - Zabin, Laurie Schwab
AU - Emerson, Mark Ross
AU - Rowland, David L.
PY - 2005/5
Y1 - 2005/5
N2 - Purpose: A relationship between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and early menarche previously has been proposed and psychobiological mechanisms for the association have been suggested. Because it has serious implications for many disciplines, we attempted to confirm that association and explore its direction, first with hypothesis 1: the negative relationship between pubertal age and CSA is based on victims' increased target gratifiability at ages of high target vulnerability, and then with hypothesis 2: CSA and circumstances surrounding it are related causally to early menarche. Methods: African-American and multi-ethnic Caucasian women (N = 323) were interviewed at several women's clinics at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center; 64 women reported premenarcheal abuse. We assessed (1) ages of CSA and menarche to determine their relationships, (2) household characteristics and their relationships with CSA, (3) variables associated with CSA, to determine the independent effect of CSA and explore potential dose response (i.e., effects of increased stress). Results: CSA and menarcheal age are related negatively (p <.05). Hypothesis 1 need not be rejected totally, but with most CSA events occurring long before puberty, hypothesis 2 is supported. Theoretically, stressful CSA characteristics increase victim/nonvictim differences in menarcheal age. Stress may derive from household characteristics often related to CSA but, even controlling for them, CSA has independent effects on menarcheal age. Conclusions: Hypothesis 1 may apply when CSA occurs within 2 years premenarche but, because hypothesis 2 is supported, continuing psychobiological effects and stress engendered by CSA are underscored. Mechanisms through which they impact the developing child require further exploration, and medical and psychological attention.
AB - Purpose: A relationship between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and early menarche previously has been proposed and psychobiological mechanisms for the association have been suggested. Because it has serious implications for many disciplines, we attempted to confirm that association and explore its direction, first with hypothesis 1: the negative relationship between pubertal age and CSA is based on victims' increased target gratifiability at ages of high target vulnerability, and then with hypothesis 2: CSA and circumstances surrounding it are related causally to early menarche. Methods: African-American and multi-ethnic Caucasian women (N = 323) were interviewed at several women's clinics at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center; 64 women reported premenarcheal abuse. We assessed (1) ages of CSA and menarche to determine their relationships, (2) household characteristics and their relationships with CSA, (3) variables associated with CSA, to determine the independent effect of CSA and explore potential dose response (i.e., effects of increased stress). Results: CSA and menarcheal age are related negatively (p <.05). Hypothesis 1 need not be rejected totally, but with most CSA events occurring long before puberty, hypothesis 2 is supported. Theoretically, stressful CSA characteristics increase victim/nonvictim differences in menarcheal age. Stress may derive from household characteristics often related to CSA but, even controlling for them, CSA has independent effects on menarcheal age. Conclusions: Hypothesis 1 may apply when CSA occurs within 2 years premenarche but, because hypothesis 2 is supported, continuing psychobiological effects and stress engendered by CSA are underscored. Mechanisms through which they impact the developing child require further exploration, and medical and psychological attention.
KW - Childhood sexual abuse
KW - Early maturation
KW - Menarche
KW - Stress
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=17044386132&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=17044386132&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2004.07.013
DO - 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2004.07.013
M3 - Article
C2 - 15837343
AN - SCOPUS:17044386132
VL - 36
SP - 393
EP - 400
JO - Journal of Adolescent Health
JF - Journal of Adolescent Health
SN - 1054-139X
IS - 5
ER -