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Secular trends in earlier initiation of puberty have been observed in recent decades. One risk factor appears to be increases in adiposity, as measured by body mass index. This trend is particularly notable among Latino populations, who have higher rates of overweight/obesity compared with non-Latino White youth. Previous research has focused primarily on White girls, resulting in data gaps regarding male puberty and among potentially high-risk populations. Using data from the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS) study, we examined body mass index at age 5 years (2005-2006) and multiple markers of pubertal onset, assessed repeatedly and longitudinally at 7 in-person visits, starting at age 9 and continuing through age 14 (2009-2015), among 336 Mexican Americans in Salinas, California. We observed no associations among boys, but found significantly earlier thelarche in overweight (HR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.1, 2.7) and obese girls (HR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.0, 2.4), menarche in overweight girls (HR = 1.6; CI: 1.0, 2.4), and pubarche in obese girls (HR = 1.9; CI: 1.2, 3.0), compared with normal-weight girls. This study examined an understudied population and included key covariates, such as birth weight and early adverse events, which are typically omitted in studies.

PurposeEarlier timing and faster tempo of puberty have been linked to adolescents' poor mental health. Previous research rarely adjusted for childhood mental health, did not use physical examination to assess puberty, and excluded Latinas and Asian Americans. This study addressed these limitations.MethodsWe followed 822 girls, recruited at ages 6-8, for 8 years. Breast and pubic hair development and anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed prospectively and repeatedly. Structural equation models tested whether pubertal timing and tempo were associated with adolescent mental health symptoms and whether associations varied by ethnicity. Models were adjusted for childhood mental health symptoms, body mass index, and family income.ResultsEarlier breast development was associated with higher depressive symptoms among whites (β = -.19; p < .01) and higher anxiety symptoms among Latinas (β = -.26; p < .05), but lower depressive symptoms among Asians (β = .24, p < .05). Later pubic hair development (b = .24; p < .05) and faster pubic hair tempo (β = .26; p < .01) were associated with higher anxiety symptoms among Latinas. Faster pubic hair tempo was associated with lower depressive symptoms among Asians (β = -.34; p < .05). Tempo of breast development showed no associations.ConclusionsFindings confirmed that earlier breast development was associated with higher mental health symptoms for Latina and white girls but was protective among Asians. Results for pubic hair and pubertal tempo were inconsistent, requiring future examination. While targeted interventions to prevent mental health problems among early-maturing girls are critical, there is variability among who might benefit most.

Most sexual assault survivors disclose to informal supporters and receive both negative and positive social reactions. Converging evidence suggests that the first months after sexual assault are a period of increased support-seeking that may be uniquely important to survivors’ recovery, especially among survivors at risk of chronic post-traumatic stress and alcohol misuse. However, no research has examined when and how often survivors talk about their assault and what social reactions they receive during this time. As such, the goal of this study was to characterize the day-to-day assault-related interactions and social reactions received by a high-risk group of survivors during the first months following sexual assault. Adult female survivors of past-10-week sexual assault with elevated assault-related post-traumatic stress and alcohol use (N = 41) completed a baseline assessment and daily diaries over 21 days as part of a larger mHealth clinical trial. Results demonstrated that assault-related interactions occurred on an average of 24.4% of days (range: 1–14 days), were more likely to occur earlier in the daily dairy period, and decreased in frequency over time. Across days, most survivors (75%) received both positive and negative reactions in these interactions, whereas fewer (20%) received only positive reactions and no one received only negative reactions. These findings suggest that survivors commonly have assault-related interactions with their supporters in the initial aftermath of the assault and that receiving both positive and negative social reactions is typical. Findings could inform future early interventions aiming to improve supporter reactions and better support survivors’ recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]