Bogaert Anthony F
Brock University, St Catharines, Canada.
J Biosoc Sci. 2008 Jul;40(4):623-36. doi: 10.1017/S0021932007002386. Epub 2007 Aug 30.
The relation between women's timing of menarche and father absence was examined in a national probability sample of Great Britain (NATSAL 2000; N>5000). Current body mass index (as a proxy for childhood weight) was examined as a potential mediator of this relationship, along with the potential moderating role that siblings (e.g. number of older brothers) had on this relationship. As in a number of previous studies, an absent father (but not an absent mother) during childhood predicted an earlier age of puberty (i.e. an early menarche). There was no evidence that weight mediated this relationship or that siblings moderated it. Both a lower body mass index and more siblings (e.g. more younger sisters and brothers) were independent predictors of a later timing of puberty. The results confirm that certain psychosocial factors (i.e. father absence; presence of siblings) may affect the timing of sexual maturation in adolescent girls.
在一项英国全国概率样本（全国性态度和生活方式调查2000；N>5000）中，研究了女性初潮时间与父亲缺失之间的关系。将当前体重指数（作为童年体重的替代指标）作为这种关系的潜在中介因素进行了研究，同时也研究了兄弟姐妹（如哥哥的数量）对这种关系的潜在调节作用。与之前的多项研究一样，童年时期父亲缺失（而非母亲缺失）预示着青春期更早到来（即初潮更早）。没有证据表明体重介导了这种关系，也没有证据表明兄弟姐妹起到了调节作用。较低的体重指数和更多的兄弟姐妹（如更多的弟弟妹妹）都是青春期较晚到来的独立预测因素。结果证实，某些社会心理因素（即父亲缺失；有兄弟姐妹）可能会影响少女的性成熟时间。
