Family relations in early childhood and reproductive development

Abstract

Belsky, Steinberg and Draper [(1991) Childhood experience, interpersonal development, and reproductive strategy: an evolutionary theory of socialization, Child Development, 62, 647–670] predicted that early childhood stress or conflict in the family environment would be associated with childhood behavioural symptoms, early puberty, and early, less discriminate reproductive behaviour. A cross-sectional self-report survey of childhood family life and adolescent development was carried out with 509 students aged 16–23 from Sheffield, north England. In women, earlier menarche was associated with more parental marital conflict throughout childhood (birth to age 11); more independence from parents in late childhood (age 8–11); earlier age at dating men; more boyfriends; younger age at first sexual intercourse; older age of first intercourse partner relative to own age at first intercourse; and more intercourse partners. In men, earlier spermarche was associated with less emotional closeness to mother throughout childhood (birth to age 11); less internalizing symptoms (anxiousness/depression) in late childhood (age 8–11); earlier age at dating women; more girlfriends; more likelihood of having had intercourse; and earlier age at first intercourse.