Abstract
Although just one of a series of physical events that marks the attainment of adult reproductive status, menarche may be the most important pubertal change that a young woman experiences. Being a discontinuous event embedded in a more gradual process may make it even more salient to the young girl. Examining the social, psychological, and physical meaning of menarche is important for several reasons.
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Abel, T., and Joffe, N. F. Cultural background of female puberty. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 1950, 4, 90–93.
Apter, D., and Vilko, R. Serum pregnenolone, progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, testosterone and 5 alpha dihydrotestosterone during female puberty. Journal of Clinical Endrocrinology and Metabolism,1977, 45(5),1039–1048.
Boggiano, A. K. Self-perception versus the cued expectancy: Analyses of overjustification. Doctoral dissertation, Princeton University, 1981.
Brooks-Gunn, J. Transitions in Gender Role Development in Childhood and Adolescence. Paper presented at a conference on Gender Role Development at NICHD, Bethesda, October 1981.
Brooks-Gunn, J. and Ruble, D. N. Menstrual related symptomatology in adolescents: The effects of attitudes, first menstrual experience, and parental factors. Paper presented at the second annual Conference on Interdisciplinary Research on the Menstrual Cycle, St. Louis, May 1978.
Brooks-Gunn, J., and Ruble, D. N. Menarche: The interaction of physiology, cultural, and social factors. In A. J. Dan, E. A. Graham, and C. P. Beecher (Eds.), The menstrual cycle: A synthesis of interdisciplinary research. New York: Springer, 1980a.
Brooks-Gunn, J., and Ruble, D. N. The menstrual attitude questionnaire. Psychosomatic Medicine, 1980b, 42 (5), 503–512.
Brooks-Gunn, J., and Ruble, D. N. Psychological determinants of menstrual product use in adolescent girls. Annals of Internal Medicine, 1982a, 96 (6), 962–965.
Brooks-Gunn J., and Ruble, D. N. The development of menstrual-related beliefs and behaviors during early adolescence. Child Development, 1982b, 53, 1567–1577.
Brooks-Gunn, J. and Ruble, D. N. Developmental processes in the experience of menstruation. In A. Baum and J. E. Singer (Eds.), Handbook of medical psychology. Vol. 1. Hillsdale, New Jersey: L. Erlbaum, 1982c.
Brooks, J., Ruble, D. N., and Clark, A. College women’s attitudes and expectations concerning menstrual-related changes. Psychosomatic Medicine, 1977, 39, 288–298.
Clausen, J. A. The social meaning of differential physical and sexual maturation. In S. E. Dragaster and G. H. Elder, Jr. (Eds.), Adolescence in the life cycle. New York: Halstead; 1975.
Dunham, G. Timing and sources of information about and attitudes toward menstruation among college females. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 1979, 117, 205–207.
Englander-Golden, P., Whitmore, M. R., and Dienstbier, R. A. Menstrual cycle as a focus of study and self reports of moods and behaviors. Motivation and Emotion, 1978, 2, 7586.
Faust, N. S. Developmental maturity as a determinant in prestige of adolescent girls. Child Development, 1960, 31, 173–186.
Frank, A. The Diary of a young girl. New York: Pocket Books, 1972.
Freud, A. Adolescence. In R. S. Eissler (Ed.), Psychoanalytic study of the child. Vol. 13. New York: International Universities Press, 1958.
Haan, N. Personality development from adolescence to adulthood in the Oakland growth and guidance studies. Seminars in Psychiatry, 1972, 4 (4) 399–414.
Haft, M. H. An exploratory study of early adolescent girls: Body image, self acceptance, acceptance of traditional female role, and response to menstruation. Unpublished doctoral thesis, Columbia University, 1973.
Henton, C. L. The effect of socio-economic and emotional factors on the onset of menarche among Negro and white girls. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 1961, 98, 255–268.
Hollingshead, A. B., and Redlich, F. C. Social class and mental illness: A community study. New York: Wiley and Sons, 1958.
Klein, J. R., and Litt, I. F. Epidemiology of adolescent dysmenorrhea. Pediatrics, 1981, 68, 66.
Konopka, G. Young girls: A portrait of adolescence. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1976.
Larsen, U. L. Sources of menstrual information: A comparison of age groups. Family Life Coordinator, 1961, 10, 41–43.
Maccoby, E. E., and Jacklin, C. N. The psychology of sex differences. Stanford, Calif: Stanford University Press, 1974.
May, R. R., Mood shifts and the menstrual cycle. Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine, 1976, 20, 125–130.
Moos, R. H. The development of the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire. Psychosomatic Medicine, 1968, 30, 853–867.
Parlee, M. B. The premenstrual syndrome. Psychological Bulletin, 1973, 80, 454–465.
Parlee, M. B. Stereotypic beliefs about menstruation: A methodological note on the Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire. Psychosomatic Medicine,1974, 36(3),229–240.
Penny, R., Parlow, A. F., Olambiwonnie, N. O., and Frasier, S. D. Evolution of the menstrual pattern of gonadotropin and sex steroid concentrations in serum. Acta Endrocinology, 1977, 84, 79.
Peskin, H. Influence of the developmental schedule of puberty on learning and ego development. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 1973, 2, 273–290.
Peskin, H., and Livson, N. Pre and post pubertal personality and adult psychologic functioning. Seminars in Psychology, 1972, 4, 343–355.
Petersen, A. C. Puberty and its psychosocial significance in girls. In A. J. Dan, E. A. Graham, and C. P. Beecher (Eds.), The menstrual cycle: A synthesis of interdisciplinary research. New York: Springer, 1980.
Ruble, D. N. Premenstrual symptoms: A reinterpretation. Science, 1977, 197, 291–292.
Ruble, D. N. and Brooks-Gunn, J. Menstrual symptoms: A social cognition analysis. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 1979, 2 (2), 171–194.
Ruble, D. N., and Brooks-Gunn, J. The experience of menarche. Child Development, 1982, 53, 1557–1566.
Shainess, N. A re-evaluation of some aspects of femininity through a study of menstruation: A preliminary report. Comparative Psychiatry, 1961, 2, 20–26.
Simmons, R. G., and Rosenberg, M. Sex, sex-roles and self-image. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 1975, 4, 229–258.
Simmons, R. G., Rosenberg, F., and Rosenberg, N. Disturbance in the self-image at adolescence. American Sociological Review, 1973, 38, 553–568.
Simmons, R. D., Brown, L., Bush, D. M., and Blyth, D. A. Self-esteem and the achievement of black and white early adolescents. Social Problems, 1978, 26, 86–96.
Sommer, B. Puberty and adolescence. New York: Oxford, 1978.
Tobin-Richards, M. H., and Petersen, A. C. Early adolescents’ perceptions of their physical development. Paper presented in a Symposium on Puberty: Social and Psychological Significance presented at the American Psychological Association Meetings in Los Angeles, CA, September, 1981.
Vollman, R. F. The menstrual cycle. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 1977.
Whisnant, L. and Zegans, L. A. A study of attitudes toward menarche in white middle-class American girls. American Journal of Psychiatry, 1975, 132, 809–814.
Wildholm. O. Dysmenorrhea during adolescence. Acta Obstetrica et Gynaecologica Scandinavica, 1979, 87, 61–66.
Wildholm, O., and Kantero, R. L. A statistical analysis of the menstrual patterns of 8,000 girls and their mothers. Acta Obstetrica et Gynaecologica Scandinavica (Suppl.), 1971, 14.
Winter, J. S. D., and Faiman, C. The development of cyclic pituitary and gonadal function in adolescent females. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 1973, 37, 714.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1983 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Brooks-Gunn, J., Ruble, D.N. (1983). The Experience of Menarche from a Developmental Perspective. In: Brooks-Gunn, J., Petersen, A.C. (eds) Girls at Puberty. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0354-9_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0354-9_8
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-0356-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-0354-9
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive