Early menarche as a risk factor for suicidal ideation in girls: The Korea youth risk behavior web-based survey

•Suicide is the leading cause of death among adolescents in Korea.•Early menarche affects several psychopathologies in adolescents.•Girls with earlier menarche than average have a higher risk for suicidal ideation. Puberty, at which point girls experience menarche, is a biologically and psychologically unstable period. This study investigated the association between early menarche and suicidal ideation in girls. This study analyzed data from approximately 35,000 girls from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey every year from 2011 to 2015. The odds ratios of suicidal ideation were compared between the early and average menarche groups. Generally, the odds ratios of suicidal ideation in girls with early menarche were significantly higher than those with average menarche.