Life History Strategies

Wang, Iris M.; Michalak, Nicholas M.; Ackerman, Joshua M.

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1926-1

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…More specifically, risktaking behaviors can exert potential functional and adaptive outcomes for adolescents' survival and reproduction (e.g., accessing resources, status, or securing a partner), despite potential negative costs (Ellis et al, 2012). The evolutionary framework of risky behaviors links these behaviors to the development of individual life history strategies, related to patterns of resource allocation to cover basic needs of reproduction, parenting and growth of the individual (Wang et al, 2016), and to sex ratio, which is defined as the proportion of males and females in a given context (Emlen and Oring, 1977). However, few studies have analyzed the joint role of life history strategies and sex ratio and their relationship with risk-taking behaviors in adolescents.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Too Many Males or Too Many Females? Classroom Sex Ratio, Life History Strategies and Risk-Taking Behaviors

Salas-Rodríguez

Gómez-Jacinto

Hombrados‐Mendieta

et al. 2022

J Youth Adolescence

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Prior research finds that sex ratio, defined as the proportion of males and females in a given context, is related to engagement in risk-taking behaviors. However, most research operationalizes sex ratio at a local context (e.g., regional or county), which fails to reflect with precision the sex ratios contexts of individuals at a closer level. Furthermore, the relationship between sex ratio and risk-taking behaviors may be affected by individuals’ life history strategy, with previous studies showing fast life history strategies linked to risk-taking behaviors, compared to slow life history strategies. The present study analyzes the relationship between classroom sex ratio and risk-taking behaviors and the interaction between classroom sex ratio and life history strategy in adolescents. The sample comprised 1214 participants nested in 57 classrooms, 49.75% females, 91.5% Spanish and a mean age of 16.15 years (SD = 1.23, range 14–21). Results from multilevel modeling showed a negative relation between classroom sex ratio and risk-taking behaviors in female adolescents with faster life history strategy. By contrast, classroom sex ratio in male adolescents related positively to risk-taking behaviors but did not interact with life history strategy. These findings underscore the importance of studying proximate sex ratio on risk-taking behaviors in adolescents and underline its potential influence in the development and expression of life history strategies.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%