TY - JOUR
AU - A. Kubo
AU - S. Aghaee
AU - J. Acker
AU - J. Deardorff
A1 - 
AB - PURPOSE: To examine the associations between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) scores from routine screenings in pediatric checkups and timing of puberty in a diverse cohort of adolescents. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of 52,573 pediatric members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California, an integrated healthcare delivery system. Exposure was the total ACEs score, determined using caregiver- and self-reported scores across all well-child visits, and categorized into 0, 1-3, 4-6, or 7-10 ACEs. Outcomes were age at menarche and pubertal onset, using physician-assessed Sexual Maturity Ratings. RESULTS: Girls with ACEs had a substantially higher risk of earlier menarche and pubertal onset compared to those without ACEs. There were no associations between ACEs and boys' pubertal timing. DISCUSSION: These results highlight the importance of screening for ACEs in a clinical setting to address adolescents' psychological well-being and healthy lifestyle habits, which in turn may prevent adverse health outcomes associated with early puberty.
AD - Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Pleasanton, California. Electronic address: Ai.kubo@kp.org.; Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Pleasanton, California.; School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California.
AN - 40178462
BT - J Adolesc Health
C5 - Healthcare Disparities
CP - 6
DA - Jun
DO - 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2025.02.009
DP - NLM
ET - 20250403
IS - 6
JF - J Adolesc Health
LA - eng
N2 - PURPOSE: To examine the associations between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) scores from routine screenings in pediatric checkups and timing of puberty in a diverse cohort of adolescents. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of 52,573 pediatric members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California, an integrated healthcare delivery system. Exposure was the total ACEs score, determined using caregiver- and self-reported scores across all well-child visits, and categorized into 0, 1-3, 4-6, or 7-10 ACEs. Outcomes were age at menarche and pubertal onset, using physician-assessed Sexual Maturity Ratings. RESULTS: Girls with ACEs had a substantially higher risk of earlier menarche and pubertal onset compared to those without ACEs. There were no associations between ACEs and boys' pubertal timing. DISCUSSION: These results highlight the importance of screening for ACEs in a clinical setting to address adolescents' psychological well-being and healthy lifestyle habits, which in turn may prevent adverse health outcomes associated with early puberty.
PY - 2025
SN - 1054-139X (Print); 1054-139x
SP - 1113
EP - 1116+
ST - Adverse Childhood Experiences are Associated With the Timing of Puberty in Girls but Not in Boys
T1 - Adverse Childhood Experiences are Associated With the Timing of Puberty in Girls but Not in Boys
T2 - J Adolesc Health
TI - Adverse Childhood Experiences are Associated With the Timing of Puberty in Girls but Not in Boys
U1 - Healthcare Disparities
U3 - 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2025.02.009
VL - 76
VO - 1054-139X (Print); 1054-139x
Y1 - 2025
ER -