A Study of Sexual Development in Female.

我们研究的总体目的是研究生理和心理因素如何相互作用影响女性青春期的性发育。本研究旨在调查日本62275名10岁至15岁女性的性发育情况。月经初潮是女性性成熟开始的主要指标。用概率分析法估计了日本女性月经初潮的平均年龄。这些数据是1992年2月从所有47个县的学校随机收集的。总样本的平均月经初潮年龄是欧洲和美国有记录以来最低的：12岁3.7个月，标准差为1年0.1个月。在47个县中，平均初潮年龄最低的是冲绳县，为12岁零0.1个月。冲绳县的女性成长最快，并且倾向于否认自己的性别认同。在冲绳县，生物学和社会环境在塑造性发展方面的相互作用是显而易见的。在整个样本中，月经初潮经历的增加有助于解释性别认同。青春期的发展及其社会解释对使女性处于身份混淆的高风险中有额外的影响。青春期荷尔蒙的变化可能会对青少年的性格产生强烈的影响。初步分析表明，初潮对人格的影响可能在青春期后期消失。综上所述，我们对青少年的性发展以及青春期发育、月经初潮和社会过程对其的影响还有很多需要了解的地方。

The overall purpose of our study is to examine how biology and psychological factors interact to affect the development of sexualty in females' adolescence. The present study aims to investigate the sexual development in Japanese 62,275females, from 10years to 15years old. The menarche stands as our primary indicator of the onset of sexual matuirty in females. The mean menarcheal age of Japanese female has been estimated by probit analysis. The data have been collected at random from schools in all 47prefectures during the February in1992. The mean menarcheal age in the total sample was the lowest on the records for Europe and the USA : 12year and 3.7month, with a S.D.of 1year and 0.1month. In the 47prefectures, the most lowest mean age at menarche was 12years and 0.1month of the Okinawa prefecture. Females in Okinawa prefecture grow most rapidly and tend to make a denial of self sexual identity. In Okinawa prefecture, the interplay of biology and the social environment in shaping the development of sexuality is apparent. In the total sample, increases in menarcheal experience contribute to explaining sexual identity. Pubertal development and its social interpretation have additional effects in putting females at high risk of identity cofusion. The hormonal changes of puberty may exert strong influence on the personalities of adolescents. Preliminary analysis suggests that the personality effects of menarche may disappear in late adolescent. Conclusionaly, it can be seen that we have a lot to learn about the sexual development of adolescent and how pubertal development, menarche, and social process affect it.