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Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science pp 1–7Cite as

Genetic Influences of Puberty

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Synonyms

Adolescence; Pubescence; Sexual maturity

Definition

Puberty is defined as the physical transition from sexual immaturity to being sexually mature.

Introduction

Adolescence is sometimes considered a synonymous term but implies more of a psychosocial maturation that comes with puberty. The mean age for the onset of first signs of puberty among girls is around 10.5 years of age (range: 8–12 years), while among boys, it is around 11.5 years (range: 9–13 years) (Susman et al. 2010). Some variability occurs between individuals with regard to the timing and sequence of pubertal maturation. However, most of boys and girls follow a predictable course through pubertal maturation.

Pubertal onset in both girls and boys appear to be occurring earlier all over the world as compared to that reported in the literature previously (Sørensen et al. 2010). Several factors like increased BMI and fat mass have been implicated in causing this earlier pubertal onset, but substantial evidence is...

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dow Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan

    Syed Ibaad Ali & Ariba Khan

  2. Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan

    Salman Kirmani

Authors
  1. Syed Ibaad Ali
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  2. Ariba Khan
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  3. Salman Kirmani
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Salman Kirmani .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

  2. Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Viviana A. Weekes-Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. University of South Carolina – Beaufort, Bluffton, SC, USA

    Carey Fitzgerald

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Ali, S.I., Khan, A., Kirmani, S. (2018). Genetic Influences of Puberty. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2463-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2463-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

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