ABSTRACT
Objective@#To explore the association between different family factors and children’s puberty timing, and to provide a reference for further research on puberty development of children.@*Methods@#A prospective cohort study was conducted on a total of 1 237 children in one district, Chongqing, using targeted sampling. Cox regression was used to analyze the association between family factors and the puberty timing of children.@*Results@#The results of univariate analysis showed that baseline age and BMI were risk factors of early puberty timing in boys and girls (P<0.01). Breast development (HR=1.27, 95%CI=1.04-1.54) was observed earlier in vaginal delivery than in cesarean section. Self-conscious family economic condition is good is the protective factor for the early timing of girl’s menstruation (HR=0.81, 95%CI=0.66-0.99), pubic hair development(HR=0.80, 95%CI=0.65-0.97) and the boy’s puberty development (Testicular development HR=0.69, 95%CI=0.58-0.83, first ejaculation HR=0.62, 95%CI=0.49-0.78, external genitalia development HR=0.70, 95%CI=0.56-0.87, pubic hair development HR=0.66, 95%CI=0.54-0.80). The left-behind boys later observed testicular development (HR=0.74, 95%CI=0.57-0.96), first ejaculation (HR=0.71, 95%CI=0.50-0.99) and pubic hair development (HR=0.68, 95%CI=0.51-0.91). Testicular development (HR=1.26, 95%CI=1.01-1.58) was observed earlier in boys who felt their parents were close (P<0.05). The results of multivariate analysis showed that the timing of pubic hair development was later in floating girls (HR=0.79, 95%CI=0.65-0.96), and family factors had nothing to do with the puberty timing in boys.@*Conclusion@#In the study, left behind children, self-perceived of parents relationship and family economic conditions are the influencing factors of children’s puberty timing. However, after adjusted for age and BMI, this association was mainly found in pubic hair of girls. The association between family factors and other pubertal development events still needs to be confirmed by further follow-up investigation.