Adjustment among Girls with Early Onset Menarche Compared to Girls with Menarche at the Expected Age: A Cross Sectional Study

Onset of menarche is a psychosocial and biological transition point for females. Girls maturing at an age earlier than their peers often experience isolation and increased levels of adjustment problems. The objective of the study was to explore degree of adjustment among girls with early onset menarche and expected age onset menarche. A cross-sectional study was conducted, among girls from six selected schools of Kozhikode city, Kerala. A total of 2480 girls were screened, out of which 144 girls who attained menarche within a year were selected. Forty-eight girls who attained menarche at nine and ten years were early menarche and ninety-six girls who attained menarche at 11-13 years were included in the expected age onset menarche group. The mean (SD) adjustment scores of girls with early menarche was 83.10 (13.13) which is apparently lower than the mean (SD) adjustment score of 102.90 (12.93) among girls with expected age onset menarche. To conclude, low level of adjustment among girls attaining menarche at an earlier age compared to their counterparts necessitates need for education at a younger age.