Age at menarche, environmental stress, and social inequality: Evidence from Poland in the 1930s–1950s

Abstract

Objective To address the relationship between socioeconomic factors and age of menarche among Polish women born and reared in periods that varied considerably in environmental stresses: the Great Depression of the 1930s, the interval of World War II, and the interval of communist rule following World War II through the 1950s. Methods The data set included information on age at menarche and socioeconomic status (SES) of 718 women born during the Great Depression (n = 182), WWII (n = 189), and post‐WWII through the 1950s (n = 347). A structured semi‐parametric statistical model (generalized additive model [GAM] class) was used for analysis. An ANOVA‐like linear model was used to test for marginal effects of SES‐related factors and their interactions together with nonparametric seasonal effect. Results The influence of period of birth, month of birth, region of early childhood, and father's education, and the interaction between period of birth and father's education on age at menarche were statistically significant. During the economic crisis and the interval of WWII, differences in ages at menarche between the extreme categories of father's education were marked. The differences in ages at menarche between women from the lowest and highest social groups were markedly reduced among women born during the post‐war interval. In addition, women born in February–March attained menarche earlier than women born in September–October. Conclusions Unpredictable conditions associated with the economic crisis and war conditions had a stronger impact on age at menarche among women from families of lower SES compared to women from better economic circumstances. Individuals born and reared in low SES conditions likely suffered more severe deterioration across the spectrum of the standard of living and quality of life compared to those with a higher SES.

Trends in Health Behavior of Polish Women in 1986–2021: The Importance of Socioeconomic Status

“…Among Polish women, regular social gradients were found in most parameters of biological fitness. The different level of sensitivity of different social groups to the same external stimuli in the form of social and political changes in Poland has been confirmed by other analyses of the Polish population, such as the study of secular trends in the body height of children and adolescents or the maturation of girls [69,70]. They have indicated that certain social subgroups, such as those at the top of the social ladder, experience more dynamic changes in body height compared to lower subgroups.…”