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Qualitative Health Research
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Pubertal Development in Mexican American Girls: The Family’s Perspective

Rosenie Thelus Jean

University of Texas, Houston, Texas, USA

Melissa L. Bondy

University of Texas, Houston, Texas, USA

Anna V. Wilkinson

University of Texas, Houston, Texas, USA

Michele R. Forman

University of Texas, Houston, Texas, USA

Mexican American (MA) girls are entering puberty earlier than in the past, yet few studies have explored the perceptions surrounding puberty among this group. We conducted separate focus groups for fathers, mothers, and daughters aged 6 to 12 years to explore perceptions of body image, pubertal development, communications, and sources of puberty-related information in MA participants. Our results revealed parental concerns about daughters’ weight and pubertal development, as well as differences in their communication with their daughters. Although both parents willingly discussed pubertal issues concerning their daughters, mothers had a more active role in conveying pubertal information to daughters. Among the girls, there was a gap in knowledge about the pubertal process between the younger and older girls. Our findings present opportunities and challenges for addressing obesity as a pubertal risk factor in MA girls; however, more studies are needed to understand family beliefs and sociocultural dynamics surrounding puberty in MAs.

Key Words: adolescents • female • body image • families • fathers • focus groups • Mexican Americans • relationships • mother—child • women’s health • young women

Qualitative Health Research, Vol. 19, No. 9, 1210-1222 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1049732309344326
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