Payton Sherer

Date of Award

2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

Second Department

Humanities

First Advisor

Casto, Kathleen

Area of Concentration

Psychology and Art

Abstract

Adolescence, particularly the onset of puberty, is a critical window in which a host of physiological and psychological changes occur, creating a stressful environment for adolescents. Due to the different hormonal changes in puberty in males and females, this window could have different outcomes based on sex. For females, the age at which first menstrual cycle begins, known as menarche, has fallen in recent decades. Critically, early menarche has been linked to negative mental health outcomes. Puberty is also associated with social and cultural challenges that can create a vulnerable period exacerbated by biological changes. One such social pressure is cultural expectations specific to members of racial minority groups. A unique racial stereotype is the Model Minority Stereotype, or the assumption that Asian individuals are smarter, more hard-working, and more docile than their non-Asian counterparts. The present study is designed to explore the intersection of the Model Minority Stereotype status, sex, and early menarche on mental health outcomes. A survey was distributed via Prolific, and 186 participants completed the study. Results showed that while that there was a significant sex difference in anxiety and depression, with females higher than males, Asian identity did not interact with that effect. There was a slight trend towards higher depression and anxiety scores with earlier menarche. Further, for Asian women, not non-Asian women, earlier menarche was associated with worse mental health outcomes. Contrary to expectations, there was an inverse trend in Model Minority experiences and mental health scores. This may show that Asian females face distinct risks in mental health, potentially exacerbated by early puberty. Culturally attuned behavioral therapy and pubertal education are posed as ways to treat and support individuals experiencing mental health issues as a result of these factors.

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