Earlier Male Sexual Maturity
Author Information
Author(s): Joshua R. Goldstein
Primary Institution: Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research
Hypothesis
There has been a long-term decline in the age of male sexual maturity since at least the mid-eighteenth century.
Conclusion
The study provides evidence of a steady decline in the age of male sexual maturity, which parallels trends observed in female sexual maturity.
Supporting Evidence
- The timing of the accident hump for males has declined steadily from the mid-eighteenth century to the mid-twentieth century.
- Improved nutrition and disease environments are plausible explanations for the long-term secular change in male maturity.
- The average pace of decline in male sexual maturity is about 0.2 years per decade.
Takeaway
Boys are growing up faster than they used to, reaching maturity at younger ages, similar to girls.
Methodology
The study analyzed historical mortality data from several countries to assess changes in the age at which young male mortality peaks.
Limitations
The evidence is not conclusive due to the monotonic trends in both the timing of the accident hump and in height.
Participant Demographics
The study used mortality data from Sweden, Denmark, Norway, the United Kingdom, and Italy.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website