Slow Life History Strategies and Increases in Externalizing and Internalizing Problems During the COVID‐19 Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID‐19 pandemic is but one of many instances of environmental adversities that have recurred in human history. Biobehavioral resource allocation strategies, known as fast (reproduction‐focused) versus slow (development‐focused) life history (LH) tradeoff strategies, evolved to deal with environmental challenges such as infectious diseases. Based on 141 young people and their mothers observed prior to (ages 9 and 13) and during (age 20) COVID‐19, we investigated longitudinal relations involving slow LH strategies. The results support the adaptive role of slow LH strategies in reducing COVID‐related increases in externalizing problems. In addition, the effect of early adversity on COVID‐related increases in externalizing was mediated, and the effect on COVID‐related increases in internalizing was moderated, by slow LH strategies.

Adolescence Amid a Pandemic: Short‐ and Long‐Term Implications

“…(2021) showed that, for German youth, extraversion predicted greater loneliness and in turn depression during the pandemic. Risk and protective factors in individuals’ life histories and family systems prior to the pandemic also predict their adjustment during the pandemic (Chang et al., 2021; Hussong et al., 2021). This work, along with studies outside of this special issue, suggests that protective factors often associated with health psychology approaches to understanding the intersection of stress, support, and coping on outcomes may be particularly relevant to understanding resilience in the face of the pandemic (Polizzi, Lynn, & Perry, 2020).…”

The Impact of the COVID‐19 Pandemic on Adolescent Emotional, Social, and Academic Adjustment

“…Also, pre‐pandemic self‐injury was a major risk factor for during‐pandemic self‐injury (Steinhoff et al., 2021 ), and pre‐pandemic neural response to anticipated social reward was associated with reduced odds of suicidal ideation (Hutchinson et al., 2021 ). Interestingly, how adolescents deal with the pandemic might depend on their life‐history strategy: Adolescents with a slow life‐history strategy, characterized by effortful control, parent–child relationship quality, family and friends’ social contact and support, and altruism, revealed reduced COVID‐related increases in externalizing problems, and slow life strategies buffered the relation between early life adversity and COVID‐related increases in internalizing problems (Chang et al., 2021 ).…”

Changes in death fear during COVID-19 in Hubei, China: The effects of life-history and current external environment.

“…Additionally, due to the inclination of future-oriented perspectives, slow individuals may show less antagonistic and resistant to, various disease control and public health measures (Chang et al, 2021). Unlike slow individuals who are inclined to affiliative, cooperated and altruistic sociality that is mindful of future cooperation and long-term reciprocation, fast individuals who are characterized by antagonistic and utilitarian social interactional style, aimed at serving immediate and self-focused needs (Chang et al, 2021). Thus, for many fast LH strategists, COVID-19 pandemic and mandatory lockdown may create a void in personal contacts and self-isolation for some people who live alone (Banerjee & Rai, 2020) and for those who may be lacking close social connections.…”

“…Thus, either face-to-face or remote support may help them endure relentlessly challenging situations. Additionally, due to the inclination of future-oriented perspectives, slow individuals may show less antagonistic and resistant to, various disease control and public health measures (Chang et al, 2021). Unlike slow individuals who are inclined to affiliative, cooperated and altruistic sociality that is mindful of future cooperation and long-term reciprocation, fast individuals who are characterized by antagonistic and utilitarian social interactional style, aimed at serving immediate and self-focused needs (Chang et al, 2021).…”