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).

Abstract

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, 1982), psychosocial acceleration theory (Belsky, Steinberg, & Draper, 1991), polygyny indication model (Kanazawa, 2001), and child development theory (Ellis, 2004) 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, 1982), psychosocial acceleration theory (Belsky et al., 1991), and child development theory (Ellis, 2004), but not the predictions of the polygyny indication model (Kanazawa, 2001). 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, 2004). 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.

Keywords:

• Family of origin
• Menarche
• Reproductive strategies
• Sociosexuality
• Education

Notes

This research was supported by a grant of the German Research Foundation to JBA(As 59/15-1).

¹We used these criteria to control for the effect of cohorts, to avoid socially desirable response tendencies (e.g., due to marriage), and due to the fact, that the case numbers within each marital status group or child/childless group would have been too small for structural equation modelling.

²Family composition until the age of seven of participants who indicated their age at menarche: both biological parents (N = 332), mother and stepfather: (N = 12), only with mother (N = 26), other family structure (N = 10), missing (N = 1). After the age of seven: both biological parents (N = 276), mother and stepfather (N = 33), only with mother (N = 60), other family structure (N = 11), missing (N = 1).

³The revised Sociosexual Orientation Inventory is available upon request from the third author.