Early life environment, fertility and age of menarche: A test of life history predictions using a longitudinal assessment of adversity perception and economic status

Perceptions of early life environmental adversity can affect the timing of life history transitions and investment in reproductive effort. These effects are well documented in non-human organisms, but have been challenging to test in humans. Here we present evidence of the effects of variables associated with extrinsic mortality and morbidity on reproductive effort in a contemporary American population. Using a longitudinal database that sampled participants (N ≥ 1,579) at four points during adolescence and early adulthood, variables reflective of perceptions of adversity and risk were significantly associated with age of menarche and early adult fertility. While other factors related to energetics and somatic condition could not be assessed, the results of this study support the hypothesis that perceptions of adversity early in life are associated with differences in reproductive effort. How these factors may covary with energetics and somatic condition remains to be assessed.