Many parents (especially Dad’s) secret nightmare is seeing their daughter grow up from a little girl to a young woman. A girl’s pubescent years introduce a new era of emotions, physical change and health issues. Some new information may provide you with a means to delay the enevitable just a little longer.

A new study from the The University of Arizona and the University of Wisconsin, Madison, indicates that girls who grow up with supportive parents who themselves have a strong relationship are more likely to delay the onset of puberty.

Why Is This So Important To Parents of Young Girls?

Early puberty in girls is already known as a risk factor for a variety of health problems, including mood disorders, substance abuse, adolescent pregnancy and cancers of the reproductive system.

The results of the study show that children living in families with greater parental supportiveness, from both mothers and fathers, less marital conflict and less depression reported by the fathers experienced the first hormonal changes of puberty later than other children.

“Consistent with the theory, quality of parental investment emerged as a central feature of the proximal family environment in relation to the timing of puberty,” Bruce J. Ellis, an associate professor in the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Arizona said.

So it’s not just family genetics that influences puberty in girls, it is also positive and healthy parenting and family relationships. Of course, healthy family relationships contribute to many more factors besides postponing puberty.

Read the full article at EurekAlert, DC