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Growing up under generalized violence: An ecological study of homicide rates and secular trends in age at menarche in Colombia, 1940s-1980s

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  • Villamor, Eduardo
  • Chavarro, Jorge E.
  • Caro, Luis E.

Abstract

We examined secular changes in mean age at menarche among 5577 Colombian women born between 1941 and 1989, and correlated those changes with nation-wide rates of homicide and real gross domestic product per capita (GDP) at the year of birth and at the year at age 5, within predefined historical periods. The mean (standard error) rate of change in age at menarche by year of birth was -0.55 (0.02) years/decade. The rate of change was not constant, but varied between historical periods as follows: -1.44, -0.14, -0.60, and -0.36 years/decade for the periods 1941-1947, 1948-1958, 1959-1978, and 1979-1989, respectively. The changes in age at menarche correlated positively with the changes in the nation-wide rates of homicide within such periods; i.e. decelerations in the menarcheal trend coincided with increases in the rates of homicide and vice versa. The correlation was higher with the rates of homicide when women were 5 years of age (r = 0.99, p = 0.01) compared to the rates of homicide at the year of birth (0.55, p = 0.45). There were negative correlations between the changes in age at menarche and the changes in GDP, but they were weaker than those with the rates of homicide. These results could suggest a potential impact on maturation of psychosocial stress in childhood due to exposure to a generalized atmosphere of violence and fear.

Suggested Citation

  • Villamor, Eduardo & Chavarro, Jorge E. & Caro, Luis E., 2009. "Growing up under generalized violence: An ecological study of homicide rates and secular trends in age at menarche in Colombia, 1940s-1980s," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 7(2), pages 238-245, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:ehbiol:v:7:y:2009:i:2:p:238-245
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Franco, S., 2003. "A Social-Medical Approach to Violence in Colombia," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 93(12), pages 2032-2036.
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    Cited by:

    1. Meisel-Roca, Adolfo & Ramírez-Giraldo, María Teresa & Santos-Cárdenas, Daniela, 2019. "Long run relationship between biological well being, and economic development in Colombia," Working papers 24, Red Investigadores de Economía.
    2. Luis Eduardo Sandoval, 2018. "Socio-economics characteristics and spatial persistence of homicides in Colombia, 2000-2010," Estudios de Economia, University of Chile, Department of Economics, vol. 45(1 Year 20), pages 51-77, June.
    3. Kitae Sohn, 2015. "A World Record in the Improvement in Biological Standards of Living in Korea: Evidence from Age at Menarche," CEH Discussion Papers 037, Centre for Economic History, Research School of Economics, Australian National University.
    4. Jansen, Erica C. & Herrán, Oscar F. & Villamor, Eduardo, 2015. "Trends and correlates of age at menarche in Colombia: Results from a nationally representative survey," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 19(C), pages 138-144.
    5. Popławska, Helena & Wilczewski, Adam & Dmitruk, Agnieszka & Hołub, Wojciech, 2013. "The timing of sexual maturation among boys and girls in eastern Poland, 1980–2000: A rural–urban comparison," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 11(2), pages 221-226.
    6. Liczbińska, Grażyna & Czapla, Zbigniew & Piontek, Janusz & Malina, Robert M., 2018. "Age at menarche in Polish University students born before, during and after World War II: Economic effects," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 23-28.

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