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Current evolutionary adaptiveness of anxiety: Extreme phenotypes of anxiety predict increased fertility across multiple generations.
- Source :
-
Journal of psychiatric research [J Psychiatr Res] 2018 Nov; Vol. 106, pp. 82-90. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Oct 03. - Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- Objective: Although recent research has begun to examine the impact of elevated anxiety on evolutionary fitness, no prior research has examined anxiety across a continuum. Such research is important as the effect of traits across a continuum on fertility hold important implications for the levels and distribution of the traits in later generations.<br />Method: In a three-generational sample (N = 2657) the linear and quadratic relationship between anxiety and the number of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren 15 years later was examined.<br />Results: The findings suggested that anxiety had a positive quadratic relationship with the number of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren 15 years later. These relationships were not significantly moderated by sex. Moreover, most of the variance between anxiety and the number of great-grandchildren was explained by anxiety's influence on the number of children and grandchildren, as opposed to anxiety having an independent direct impact on the number of great-grandchildren.<br />Conclusion: These findings suggest that extreme values from the mean anxiety are associated with increased evolutionary fitness within the modern environment.<br /> (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1879-1379
- Volume :
- 106
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of psychiatric research
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 30296705
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2018.10.002