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Early menarche predicts increased depressive symptoms and cortisol levels in Quebec girls ages 11 to 13

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 November 2013

Lyane Trépanier ,
Robert-Paul Juster ,
Marie-France Marin ,
Pierrich Plusquellec ,
Nathe Francois ,
Shireen Sindi ,
Nathalie Wan ,
Helen Findlay ,
Tania Schramek  and
Julie Andrews
...Show all authors
Lyane Trépanier
Affiliation:
Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital University of Montréal
Robert-Paul Juster
Affiliation:
Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital McGill University
Marie-France Marin
Affiliation:
Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital University of Montréal
Pierrich Plusquellec
Affiliation:
Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital University of Montréal
Nathe Francois
Affiliation:
Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital
Shireen Sindi
Affiliation:
Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital McGill University
Nathalie Wan
Affiliation:
Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital
Helen Findlay
Affiliation:
Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital
Tania Schramek
Affiliation:
Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital
Julie Andrews
Affiliation:
University of Montréal
Vincent Corbo
Affiliation:
University of Montréal
Katarina Dedovic
Affiliation:
University of Montréal
Sonia Lupien*
Affiliation:
Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital University of Montréal
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Sonia Lupien, Centre for Studies on Human Stress, 7331 Hochelaga, Montreal, QC H1N 3V2, Canada; E-mail: [email protected].
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Abstract

Earlier age of menarche is believed to confer greater vulnerability to depressive symptoms via increased reactivity to stressors associated with adolescence. In this longitudinal study, we measured depressive symptoms and salivary cortisol levels in 198 boys and 142 girls between the ages of 11 and 13 tested four times during Grade 7 as they transitioned from elementary school to secondary school as per Quebec's education system. Results showed that girls who had already reached menarche before starting secondary school had significantly higher depressive symptoms and salivary cortisol levels across the school year in comparison to girls who had not reached menarche, who in turn presented higher depressive scores than boys. When we divided menarcheal girls as a function of menarcheal timing in subanalyses, we found that girls with early menarche presented consistently elevated depressive symptoms across the school year while girls with on-time menarche presented transient depressive symptoms but no differences in salivary cortisol levels. Collectively, these results show that early menarche is associated with high depressive symptoms and cortisol levels in adolescent girls. This developmental milestone may render girls more vulnerable to environmental stressors and therefore represents a critical period to intervene to promote mental health.

Type
Regular Articles
Information
Development and Psychopathology , Volume 25 , Issue 4pt1 , November 2013 , pp. 1017 - 1027
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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