Family of origin, age at menarche, and reproductive strategies: A test of four evolutionary-developmental models

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 Draper, P. and Harpending, H. 1982. Father absence and reproductive strategy: An evolutionary perspective. Journal of Anthropological Research, 38: 255–273. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®], [Google Scholar]), psychosocial acceleration theory (Belsky, Steinberg, & Draper, 1991 Belsky, J., Steinberg, L. and Draper, P. 1991. Childhood experience, interpersonal development, and reproductive strategy: An evolutionary theory of socialization. Child Development, 62: 647–670. [Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®], [Google Scholar]), polygyny indication model (Kanazawa, 2001 Kanazawa, S. 2001. Why father absence might precipitate early menarche: The role of polygyny. Evolution and Human Behavior, 22: 329–334. [Google Scholar]), and child development theory (Ellis, 2004 Ellis, B. J. 2004. Timing of pubertal maturation in girls: An integrated life history approach. Psychological Bulletin, 130: 920–958. [Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®], [Google Scholar]) 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 Draper, P. and Harpending, H. 1982. Father absence and reproductive strategy: An evolutionary perspective. Journal of Anthropological Research, 38: 255–273. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®], [Google Scholar]), psychosocial acceleration theory (Belsky et al., 1991 Belsky, J., Steinberg, L. and Draper, P. 1991. Childhood experience, interpersonal development, and reproductive strategy: An evolutionary theory of socialization. Child Development, 62: 647–670. [Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®], [Google Scholar]), and child development theory (Ellis, 2004 Ellis, B. J. 2004. Timing of pubertal maturation in girls: An integrated life history approach. Psychological Bulletin, 130: 920–958. [Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®], [Google Scholar]), but not the predictions of the polygyny indication model (Kanazawa, 2001 Kanazawa, S. 2001. Why father absence might precipitate early menarche: The role of polygyny. Evolution and Human Behavior, 22: 329–334. [Google Scholar]). 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 Ellis, B. J. 2004. Timing of pubertal maturation in girls: An integrated life history approach. Psychological Bulletin, 130: 920–958. [Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®], [Google Scholar]). 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.