Meena's father died when she was a baby, and there is a lot of ongoing conflict in the household between her mother and stepfather. According to research discussed in the text, Meena may be more likely to:______.
a. reach puberty earlier.
b. reach puberty later.
c. experience storm and stress.
d. experience an atypical order of pubertal events.

A recent study by the professors of University of Wisconsin and Arizona found out that parenting style, parental depression, economic difficulty and family stresses affect the onset of puberty in girls.

If a girl living in family has less marital conflict and more parental support experience the hormonal changes late, while the girls with depression, poor parent support and martial conflict experience puberty earlier.

Even a normal family stress or conflict can influence a young girl's sexual development. A girl's mothers first menstruation is also affect the girls puberty. The study revealed that non genetic factors also affect the onset of puberty.