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This response outlines more reasons why we need the integrative framework of grandparental investments and intergenerational transfers that we advocated in the target article. We discusses obstacles--from misconceptions to poor measures--that stand in the way of such a framework and of a better understanding of the effects of grandparenting in the developed world. We highlight new research directions that have emerged from the commentaries, and we end by discussing some of the things in our target article about which we may have been wrong. doi: 10.1017/S0140525X10000014

What motivates grandparents to their altruism? We review answers from evolutionary theory, sociology, and economics. Sometimes in direct conflict with each other, these accounts of grandparental investment exist side-by-side, with little or no theoretical integration. They all account for some of the data, and none account for all of it. We call for a more comprehensive theoretical framework of grandparental investment that addresses its proximate and ultimate causes, and its variability due to lineage, values, norms, institutions (e.g., inheritance laws), and social welfare regimes. This framework needs to take into account that the demographic shift to low fecundity and mortality in economically developed countries has profoundly altered basic parameters of grandparental investment. We then turn to the possible impact of grandparental acts of altruism, and examine whether benefits of grandparental care in industrialized societies may manifest in terms of less tangible dimensions, such as the grandchildren's cognitive and verbal ability, mental health, and well-being. Although grandparents in industrialized societies continue to invest substantial amounts of time and money in their grandchildren, we find a paucity of studies investigating the influence that this investment has on grandchildren in low-risk family contexts. Under circmnstances of duress--for example, teenage pregnancy or maternal depression- there is converging evidence that grandparents can provide support that helps to safeguard their children and grandchildren against adverse risks. We conclude by discussing the role that grandparents could play in what has been referred to as Europe's demographic suicide. Keywords: child development; demographic transition; empathy; grandmother hypothesis; grandparental investment; grandparental solicitude; intergenerational transfers; kin altruism; maternal depression; reciprocal altruism doi: 10.1017/S0140525X09991105

The present study investigated the association of depressive personality traits to treatment outcome for depression. One hundred and nineteen patients with a primary diagnosis of major depression were divided into high- and low-depressive personality groups, and depression symptomatology was assessed pre- and postparticipation in a standardized group cognitive-behavioral intervention. Analyses revealed poorer pre-state and end-state functioning for the high-depressive personality group. However, rate of improvement pre- to posttreatment was comparable between the two groups. Subsequent multiple regression analyses revealed that when controlling for pretreatment depression severity, depressive personality was not a predictor of depression treatment outcome. Within the methodological parameters of the current study, depressive personality traits were not associated with a poorer response to cognitive-behavioral treatment for depression. Keywords: depressive personality; personality disorders; depression; treatment outcome; cognitive-behavioral therapy

We present a novel evolutionary analysis of low birth weight (LBW). LBW is a well-known risk factor for increased infant morbidity and mortality. Its causes, however, remain obscure and there is a vital need for new approaches. Life history theory, the most dynamic branch of evolutionary ecology, provides important insights into the potential role of LBW in human reproductive strategies. Life history theory's primary rationale for LBW is the trade-off between current and future reproduction. This trade-off underlies the prediction that under conditions of environmental risk and uncertainty (experienced subjectively as psychosocial stress) it can be evolutionarily adaptive to reproduce at a young age. One component of early reproduction is early menarche. Early reproduction tends to maximise offspring quantity, but parental investment theory's assumption of a quantity--quality trade-off holds that maximizing offspring quantity reduces quality, of which LBW may be the major component. We therefore predict that women who experienced early psychosocial stress and had early menarche are more likely to produce LBW babies. Furthermore, the extension of parent-offspring conflict theory in utero suggests that the fetus will attempt to resist its mother's efforts to reduce its resources, allocating more of what it does receive to the placenta in order to extract more maternal resources to increase its own quality. We propose that LBW babies born to mothers who experience early psychosocial stress and have early menarche are more likely to have a higher placental/fetal weight ratio. We review evidence in support of these hypotheses and discuss the implications for public health. Keywords: Birth weight; Age at menarche; Evolutionary theory; Psychosocial stress

Optimal oxidative stress (OS) is important throughout pregnancy; however, an increased OS may alter placental angiogenesis culminating in an imbalanced of angiogenic growth mediators (AGMs). Suboptimal Health Status (SHS), a physical state between health and disease, may be associated with increased OS and unbalanced AGMs. In this study, we explored the association between SHS, biomarkers of OS (BOS) and AGMs among normotensive pregnant women (NTN-PW) in a Ghanaian Suboptimal Health Cohort Study (GHOACS). This comparative GHOACS recruited 593 NTN-PW from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Ghana. SHS was measured using a Suboptimal Health Status Questionnaire-25 (SHSQ-25). Along with the subjective SHS measure, objective BOS: 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), 8-epiprostaglandinF2 alpha (8-epi-PGF2α), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and AGMs: vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase receptor 1 (sFlt-1), placental growth factor (PIGF) and soluble endoglin (sEng) were evaluated. Compared to optimal health NTN-PW, levels of PlGF, VEGF-A and TAC were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced and negatively associated with SHS whilst sEng, sFlt-1, 8-epiPGF2α, 8-OHdG, and combined ratios of sFlt-1/PlGF, 8-epiPGF2α/PlGF, 8-OHdG/PlGF, and sEng/PlGF were significantly increased and positively associated with SHS. The first quartile for PIGF (2.79-fold) and VEGF-A (5.35-fold), and the fourth quartile for sEng (4.31-fold), sFlt-1 (1.84-fold), 8-epiPGF2α (2.23-fold), 8-OHdG (1.90-fold) and urinary 8-OHdG (1.95-fold) were independently associated with SHS (p < 0.05). SHS is associated with increased OS and unbalanced AGMs. Early identification of SHS-related OS and unbalanced AGMs may inform clinicians of the need for therapeutic options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a consensus in the literature that hunger and community violence inaugurates adverse health impacts for survivors and for their descendants. The studied cohorts do not include Western Australian Aboriginal people, although many experienced violence and famine conditions as late as the 1970s. This article describes the pathways and intergenerational impacts of studied cohorts and applies these to the contemporary Western Australian context. The authors found that the intergenerational impacts, compounded by linguistic trauma, may be a contributor to current health issues experienced by Aboriginal people, but these are also contributing to the resurgence in population numbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Custodial grandparents are a vulnerable and marginalised group within society. A total of 110 these custodial grandparents took part in a mixed-method (qualitative interview and quantitative survey) research project. Of these, 22 participated in a semi-structured interview, 27 participated in an interview and completed a Grandcarer Needs, Wellbeing and Health Survey, and 61 completed a survey only. Data were subjected to conventional, summative and directed content analysis. The results reveal that while a few custodial grandparents have a viable succession plan for their custodial grandchildren's care post their incapacitation or demise, the majority do not. Indeed, many custodial grandparents have such a conflictual (or no) relationship with not only their offspring, but also their extended family members, coupled with a deep distrust of the foster-care system that their succession (Plan B) care options for their custodial grandchild are limited. The prevailing plan being not to die before their grandchild/ren reach maturity. The health implications of raising grandchildren without a viable succession plan are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) are common. Whilst the impact on pregnant women has been well documented, there is less data on the impact on partners. This study evaluated awareness and impact of maternal NVP on expectant fathers.Methods: Observational study of 300 expectant fathers. Institutional ethics approval and consent were obtained. Fathers were recruited from antenatal clinics and community settings. Researchers administered demographic, attitudinal and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale questionnaires during the third trimester. Expectant fathers were asked if their partner experienced NVP. If aware, they were asked to comment upon the impact on their lives.Results: Participants were similar in demographics to those of the wider Australian community of expectant fathers. Most fathers were aware whether their partner experienced NVP (82%). Of these fathers, 20% reported no NVP, and 30%, 37% and 13% men reported maternal NVP was mild, moderate and severe, respectively. There was no correlation between paternal depression and maternal NVP, but a significant association was found between moderate and severe maternal NVP and paternal anxiety. In qualitative comments, five themes emerged: disruption on work, feelings of frustration and helplessness, concern over depression in their partner, concern for the developing baby and a sense of being manipulated in the third trimester of pregnancy.Discussion: Most expectant fathers are aware of NVP in their partner. Moderate and severe maternal NVP are associated with significantly higher symptoms of paternal anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gangestad & Simpson's model of the evolution of within-sex differences in reproductive strategies requires a degree of female choice that probably did not exist because of male coercion. We argue as well that the tradeoff between current and future reproduction accounts for more of the within-sex differences in reproductive strategies than the 'good-genes-good parenting' tradeoff they propose.