Age at menarche associated with subsequent educational attainment and risk-taking behaviours: the Pelotas 1982 Birth Cohort

Abstract

Background: Earlier age at menarche (AAM), a marker of puberty timing in females, has been associated with a higher likelihood of adolescent risk-taking behaviours and variably associated with educational attainment.

Aim: To examine the association between AAM and educational attainment in the Pelotas, Brazil, 1982 Birth Cohort.

Subjects and methods: AAM was categorised as Early (7–11 years), Average (12–13 years), or Late (14+ years). Primary outcome: years of education (age 30). Secondary outcomes: risk-taking behaviours, adult income and school grade failure.

Results: In adjusted models, compared to Average AAM, Late AAM was associated with 0.64 fewer years of education (95% CI: −1.15, −0.13). Early AAM was associated with earlier age at first sexual intercourse (−0.25 years; 95% CI: −0.39, −0.12), whereas Late AAM was associated with 17% lower adult income (0.83; 95% CI: 0.71, 0.95) and 0.31 years older age at first alcohol consumption (95% CI: 0.10, 0.52).

Conclusions: Our findings confirm the association between earlier puberty timing in females and a greater likelihood of risk-taking behaviours in this setting of recent secular changes towards earlier puberty. However, the association between Late AAM and lower education was surprising and may support a psychosocial rather than biological link between puberty timing and educational outcomes.

Keywords:

• Menarche
• puberty
• precocious
• risk-taking behaviour
• educational attainment

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico; Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior and Medical Research Council.