Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 9, 2026
11:31
Rapid Fractionation and Isolation of Whole Blood Components in Samples Obtained from a Community-based Setting
Published on: November 30, 2015
17.0K
Recalled Adverse Childhood Experiences Predict Behavioral Traits Associated With an Accelerated Life History in Cebu,
Sofia C Carrera1, Delia B Carba2, Nanette R Lee2
1Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA.
Summary
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) did not affect physical maturation but did lead to earlier health-risk behaviors and sexual debut. Individuals with ACEs showed faster life history scheduling and increased reproduction, particularly women.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Anthropology
- Developmental Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to adult health outcomes, often interpreted through a
- fast
- life history
- theory.
- This study examines this association in the Philippines.
- Life history theory posits that organisms allocate resources to survival, growth, and reproduction based on environmental predictability.
- ACEs may trigger a faster life history strategy, prioritizing early reproduction over long-term somatic maintenance.
- Previous research has primarily focused on Western, high-income contexts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between ACEs and life history strategies in a Filipino population.
- To test whether ACEs predict "
- fast
- life history
- traits, including maturational timing, age at sexual debut, and reproductive patterns.
- To differentiate the effects of deprivation versus threat dimensions of ACEs on life history outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey (CLHNS), a multi-generational study in the Philippines.
- Collected longitudinal data on development, behavior, and reproduction from 1288 participants (54% male) starting prenatally.
- Employed retrospective ACEs questionnaires in 2018 and analyzed data using discrete hazard and generalized linear models.
Main Results:
- No significant association was found between ACEs and physical maturational timing.
- Higher recalled ACEs were associated with earlier engagement in health-risk behaviors and earlier age at sexual debut.
- Among women, ACEs predicted an earlier age at first reproduction and higher gravidity.
- Deprivation, a dimension of ACEs, showed similar results, whereas threat did not.
Conclusions:
- Physical maturation in Cebu was not accelerated by psychosocial stressors (ACEs) but by resource availability.
- Individuals experiencing ACEs exhibited behavioral patterns consistent with faster life history scheduling.
- ACEs were associated with increased reproductive investment, particularly in women, aligning with faster life history predictions.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Conduct Disorder
901
Conduct disorder is a complex mental health diagnosis characterized by a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior that violates societal norms, the rights of others, or age-appropriate rules. The diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder require the presence of at least three problematic behaviors within the past 12 months, with at least one occurring in the past six months. These behaviors are grouped into four categories: aggression toward people and animals; destruction of property;...
901
01:30Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
1.4K
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
1.4K
01:28Causes of Social Behavior III: Biological and Environmental Influences
449
Social behavior is a complex phenomenon that arises from the interaction between biological predispositions and environmental influences. This intricate interplay shapes how individuals think, feel, and act in various social contexts. Understanding these mechanisms requires insights from psychology, neuroscience, genetics, and evolutionary theory.Environmental Influences on Social BehaviorEnvironmental factors, including temperature, odors, and visual stimuli, play a crucial role in shaping...
449
01:28Adler's Individual Psychology
3.0K
Alfred Adler, a prominent figure in psychology, founded the school of individual psychology. In contrast to Freud's emphasis on sexual or aggressive motives, Adler suggested that individuals are primarily motivated by their purposes and goals. He believed that people strive for perfection rather than pleasure. Adler argued that individuals could creatively act upon their genetic inheritance and environmental experiences to shape their own lives, emphasizing conscious motivation over...
3.0K
01:20Evolutionary Psychology
1.2K
Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the...
1.2K
02:04Bullying
9.0K
A modern form of aggression is bullying. As you learn in your study of child development, socializing and playing with other children is beneficial for children’s psychological development. However, as you may have experienced as a child, not all play behavior has positive outcomes. Some children are aggressive and want to play roughly. Other children are selfish and do not want to share toys. One form of negative social interactions among children that has become a national concern is...
9.0K