A Life History Theory of Father Absence and Menarche: A Meta-Analysis

Gregory D. Webster · Julia A. Graber · Amanda N. Gesselman · Benjamin Sage Crosier · Tatiana Orozco Schember

165 citations0/0 files storedEvolutionary Psychology

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Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior Family Dynamics and Relationships Animal Behavior and Reproduction

Abstract

Is the absence of biological fathers related to their daughters' earlier age at menarche? Drawing on evolutionary psychology and life history theory, prior research has suggested such a relationship (Belsky, Steinberg, and Draper, 1991; Draper and Harpending, 1982; Ellis, 2004). Although qualitative reviews have shown narrative support for this relationship (Allison and Hyde, 2013; Ellis, 2004; Kim, Smith, and Palermiti, 1997; Susman and Dorn, 2009), no quantitative review exists to provide empirical support for this relationship or to explain mixed results. Thus, we conducted a random-effects meta-analysis of correlations (Card, 2012) on father absence and daughter menarcheal age (k=33; N=70,403). The weighted mean correlation was .14, 95% CI [.09, .19], suggesting that father absence was significantly related to earlier menarche; effect sizes were heterogeneous. Egger's regression (Egger, Smith, Schneider, and Minder, 1997) showed no evidence of publication bias (file-drawer effect; r=.34, p=.052). Outcome measure differences (menarcheal age vs. menarcheal age embedded in a multi-item pubertal timing scale) did not moderate effect sizes. Study year effects (Schooler, 2011) were also non-significant. Our findings support one aspect of the life history model and provide groundwork for subsequent examination of other pathways in the model.

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2019Moderating the association between discrimination and adjustment: A meta-analysis of ethnic/racial identity.2015The Importance of Puberty for Adolescent Development 2019Early-Life Adversity Accelerates Child and Adolescent Development 2016Genetic confounding of the relationship between father absence and age at menarche 2014Children, childhood, and development in evolutionary perspective 2015

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