A recent US study has revealed that girls who go through puberty early in life could be more likely to experience depression and behavior problems that last into their 20s compared to peers who start menstruation later.
Researchers studied data on up to 7,800 women who had their first menstrual cycle at an average age of 12. The women were interviewed four times, starting around age 16 and continuing until about age 28.
Girls who experienced early puberty between age 8 and 10 were more likely than older girls to become depressed, and their symptoms were also more severe in adolescence, the study found.
With earlier puberty, girls were also more likely to have behavior issues that may lead to vices like stealing, lying, breaking into buildings and selling drugs. The link lasted into young adulthood.