TY - JOUR
T1 - Early life conditions, reproductive and sexuality-related life history outcomes among human males
T2 - A systematic review and meta-analysis
AU - Xu, Yin
AU - Norton, Sam
AU - Rahman, Qazi
PY - 2018/1
Y1 - 2018/1
N2 - In order to investigate the association between early life conditions and reproductive and sexuality-related life history outcomes among men, we conducted a meta-analysis that compiled the results of 198 articles. A total of 689 independent samples and 964,345 participants were included. The meta-analysis revealed that low family socioeconomic status was associated with early sexual debut (r = 0.08), early first birth (r = 0.14), and early marriage (r = 0.05). There was no significant association between family socioeconomic status and pubertal timing or number of sexual partners. Parental absence was associated with early sexual debut (r = -0.11), greater number of sexual partners (r = -0.19), early first birth (r = -0.16), and early marriage (r = -0.13), and delayed pubertal timing (r = 0.07). Small adult body size was associated with greater numbers of offspring (r = 0.03), and small body size before puberty was associated with delayed pubertal timing (r = -0.07). Small adult body size, greater number of siblings, and older parents were associated with non-heterosexual orientation (rs = 0.10, 0.03, and 0.03 respectively). Factors such as sampling procedure, data collection method, and age cut-off used to measure family structure change influenced the association between some predictors (e.g., family socioeconomic status) and outcomes (e.g., first birth). The findings are discussed in relation to the utility of life history theory for understanding human male reproductive and sexuality-related outcomes.
AB - In order to investigate the association between early life conditions and reproductive and sexuality-related life history outcomes among men, we conducted a meta-analysis that compiled the results of 198 articles. A total of 689 independent samples and 964,345 participants were included. The meta-analysis revealed that low family socioeconomic status was associated with early sexual debut (r = 0.08), early first birth (r = 0.14), and early marriage (r = 0.05). There was no significant association between family socioeconomic status and pubertal timing or number of sexual partners. Parental absence was associated with early sexual debut (r = -0.11), greater number of sexual partners (r = -0.19), early first birth (r = -0.16), and early marriage (r = -0.13), and delayed pubertal timing (r = 0.07). Small adult body size was associated with greater numbers of offspring (r = 0.03), and small body size before puberty was associated with delayed pubertal timing (r = -0.07). Small adult body size, greater number of siblings, and older parents were associated with non-heterosexual orientation (rs = 0.10, 0.03, and 0.03 respectively). Factors such as sampling procedure, data collection method, and age cut-off used to measure family structure change influenced the association between some predictors (e.g., family socioeconomic status) and outcomes (e.g., first birth). The findings are discussed in relation to the utility of life history theory for understanding human male reproductive and sexuality-related outcomes.
KW - Early life conditions
KW - Life history strategy
KW - Life history theory
KW - Men
KW - Meta-analysis
KW - Sexual orientation
KW - Evolution
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85028518184&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2017.08.005
DO - 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2017.08.005
M3 - Article
SN - 1090-5138
VL - 39
SP - 40
EP - 51
JO - Evolution and Human Behaviour
JF - Evolution and Human Behaviour
IS - 1
ER -