Low Maternal Capital Predicts Life History Trade-Offs in Daughters: Why Adverse Outcomes Cluster in Individuals

Abstract

Background: Some individuals appear prone to multiple adverse outcomes, including poor health, school dropout, risky behavior and early reproduction. This clustering remains poorly understood. Drawing on evolutionary life history theory, we hypothesized that maternal investment in early life would predict the developmental trajectory and adult phenotype of female offspring. Specifically, we predicted that daughters receiving low investment would prioritize the life history functions of “reproduction” and “defense” over “growth” and “maintenance,” increasing the risk of several adverse outcomes. Methods: We investigated 2,091 mother-daughter dyads from a birth cohort in Pelotas, Brazil. We combined data on maternal height, body mass index, income, and education into a composite index of “maternal capital.” Daughter outcomes included reproductive status at 18 years, growth, adult anthropometry, body composition, cardio-metabolic risk, educational attainment, work status, and risky behavior. We tested whether daughters' early reproduction (<18 years) and exposure to low maternal capital were associated with adverse outcomes, and whether this accounted for the clustering of adverse outcomes within individuals. Results: Daughters reproducing early were shorter, more centrally adipose, had less education and demonstrated more risky behavior compared to those not reproducing. Low maternal capital was associated with greater likelihood of the daughter reproducing early, smoking and having committed violent crime. High maternal capital was positively associated with the daughter's birth weight and adult size, and the likelihood of being in school. Associations of maternal capital with cardio-metabolic risk were inconsistent. Daughters reproducing early comprised 14.8% of the population, but accounted for 18% of obesity; 20% of violent crime, low birth weight and short stature; 32% of current smoking; and 52% of school dropout. Exposure to low maternal capital contributed similarly to the clustering of adverse outcomes among daughters. Outcomes were worst among daughters characterized by both low maternal capital and early reproduction. Conclusion: Consistent with life history theory, daughters exposed to low maternal capital demonstrate “future discounting” in behavior and physiology, prioritizing early reproduction over growth, education, and health. Trade-offs associated with low maternal capital and early reproduction contribute to clustering of adverse outcomes. Our approach provides new insight into inter-generational cycles of disadvantage.

Life History Transitions at the Origins of Agriculture: A Model for Understanding How Niche Construction Impacts Human Growth, Demography and Health

“…A fourth example illustrates how these trade-offs may emerge through the life course, in response to variable investment in early life. In a longitudinal cohort study from Brazil (188), lower levels of maternal investment were associated with developmental trade-offs that favoured immediate survival and early reproduction at a cost to growth and maintenance (Figure 3). Maternal capital was assessed by scoring "penalties" in each of maternal height, nutritional status, family income, and education level.…”

“…At 18 years, daughters showed preferential energy allocation to reproduction and defence, at a cost to growth and maintenance. Based on data from Wells et al (188). investment in reproduction, and hence greater potential harvests for humans.…”

Risk-seeking or impatient? Disentangling variance and time in hazardous behaviors

“…For example, studies of optimal foraging demonstrate that individuals whose average expected return on foraging is below the starvation threshold may adopt the riskier strategy to maximize the likelihood of survival (Caraco, Martindale, & Whittam, 1980;Stephens D. W., 1981). The empirical literature in psychology and behavioral sciences indeed shows that deprived individuals tend to be more violent (Brezina, Agnew, Cullen, & Wright, 2004;Shaw, 2005;Wells et al, 2019), take on riskier jobs (Leigh, 1986;Orrenius & Zavodny, 2009;Sterling & Weinkam, 1990), and engage in riskier health behaviours (Brennan, Henry, Nicholson, Kotowicz, & Pasco, RISK TAKING 5 2009;Droomers, Schrijvers, Stronks, van de Mheen, & Mackenbach, 1999;Everson, Maty, Lynch, & Kaplan, 2002;Hanson & Chen, 2007;Hersch & Viscusi, 1998;Hiscock, Bauld, Amos, Fidler, & Munafò, 2012;McLaren, 2007;Pampel, Krueger, & Denney, 2010;Pill, Peters, & Robling, 1995). Based on this evidence it is now widely accepted in the evolutionary psychology literature that risk seeking is part of the "behavioral constellation of deprivation" (Pepper & Nettle, 2017).…”

Differences in the relationship of weight to height, and thus the meaning of BMI, according to age, sex, and birth year cohort

“…Fat-free mass is a marker not only of growth but also of maintenance (given that it incorporates the vital organs) and reproduction (since muscle mass promotes sexual signalling in males, while fat-free mass is a stronger predictor of offspring birth weight in females). Fat mass can be considered a marker of defence, as adipose tissue contributes both energy and molecular precursors to immune function (Wells et al 2019). Trade-offs between different life history functions may manifest at the level of these body components and this may explain why associations between height, fat mass, and fat-free mass may vary substantially between population sub-groups.…”