TY - JOUR
T1 - Family rearing antecedents of pubertal timing
AU - Belsky, Jay
AU - Steinberg, Laurence D.
AU - Houts, Renate M.
AU - Friedman, Sarah L.
AU - Dehart, Ganie
AU - Cauffman, Elizabeth
AU - Roisman, Glenn I.
AU - Halpern-Felsher, Bonnie L.
AU - Susman, Elisabeth
PY - 2007/7
Y1 - 2007/7
N2 - Two general evolutionary hypotheses were tested on 756 White children (397 girls) studied longitudinally: (1) rearing experiences would predict pubertal timing; and (2) children would prove differentially susceptible to rearing. Analysis of pubertal measurements, including some based on repeated physical assessments, showed that mothering and fathering, earlier and later in childhood, predicted pubertal development, but only for girls, with negative parenting appearing most influential; maternal harsh control predicted earlier menarche. Rearing effects varied by infant negative emotionality, proving stronger (and opposite) for girls who in infancy were lower rather than higher in negativity. Maternal menarche, controlled in all analyses, was a stronger predictor than rearing. Findings are discussed in terms of theory development, genetic and nutritional influences, and sample restrictions.
AB - Two general evolutionary hypotheses were tested on 756 White children (397 girls) studied longitudinally: (1) rearing experiences would predict pubertal timing; and (2) children would prove differentially susceptible to rearing. Analysis of pubertal measurements, including some based on repeated physical assessments, showed that mothering and fathering, earlier and later in childhood, predicted pubertal development, but only for girls, with negative parenting appearing most influential; maternal harsh control predicted earlier menarche. Rearing effects varied by infant negative emotionality, proving stronger (and opposite) for girls who in infancy were lower rather than higher in negativity. Maternal menarche, controlled in all analyses, was a stronger predictor than rearing. Findings are discussed in terms of theory development, genetic and nutritional influences, and sample restrictions.
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.01067.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.01067.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 17650140
AN - SCOPUS:34547201028
SN - 0009-3920
VL - 78
SP - 1302
EP - 1321
JO - Child development
JF - Child development
IS - 4
ER -