From Environment to Mating Competition and Super-K in a Predominantly Urban Sample of Young Adults.
Recent research suggests human life history strategy (LHS) may be subsumed by multiple dimensions, including mating competition and Super-K, rather than one. In this study, we test whether a two-dimensional structure best fit data from a predominantly urban sample of young adults ages 18-24. We also test whether latent life history dimensions are associated with environmental harshness and unpredictability as predicted by life history theory. Results provide evidence that a two-dimensional model best fit the data. Furthermore, a moderate inverse residual correlation between mating competition and Super-K was found, consistent with a life history trade-off. Our findings suggest that parental socioeconomic status may enhance investment in mating competition, that harshness might persist into young adulthood as an important correlate of LHS, and that unpredictability may not have significant effects in young adulthood. These findings further support the contention that human LHS is multidimensional and environmental effects on LHS are more complex than previously suggested. The model presented provides a parsimonious explanation of an array of human behaviors and traits and can be used to inform public health initiatives, particularly with respect to the potential impact of environmental interventions.
1 School of Human Services, College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
George B
GB
Richardson
2 School of Education, College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.|3 College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services, Evaluation Services Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.|4 Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Jacinda K
JK
Dariotis
2 School of Education, College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
Mark H C
MH
Lai
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000071421:Life History Traits; D008297:Male; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult
K-factor; human life history strategy; life history theory; mating competition; mating effort; psychometrics; psychosocial acceleration