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Socioecology shapes child and adolescent time allocation in twelve hunter-gatherer and mixed-subsistence forager societies

Author

Listed:
  • Sheina Lew-Levy

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology [Leipzig] - Max-Planck-Gesellschaft)

  • Rachel Reckin

    (CAM - University of Cambridge [UK])

  • Stephen M. Kissler

    (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)

  • Ilaria Pretelli

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology [Leipzig] - Max-Planck-Gesellschaft)

  • Adam H. Boyette

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology [Leipzig] - Max-Planck-Gesellschaft)

  • Alyssa Crittenden

    (WGU Nevada - University of Nevada [Las Vegas])

  • Renée V. Hagen

    (UCLA - University of California [Los Angeles] - UC - University of California)

  • Randall Haas

    (Wayne State University [Detroit])

  • Karen Kramer

    (University of Utah)

  • Matthew J. O'Brien

    (UC - University of Cincinnati)

  • Jeremy Koster

    (California State University [Chico])

  • Koji Sonoda

    (Niigata University)

  • Todd A. Surovell

    (UW - University of Wyoming)

  • Jonathan Stieglitz

    (TSE-R - Toulouse School of Economics - UT Capitole - Université Toulouse Capitole - UT - Université de Toulouse - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement)

  • Bram Tucker

    (University of Georgia [USA])

  • Noa Lavi

    (UCL - University College of London [London])

  • Kate Ellis-Davies

    (Swansea University)

  • Helen Davis

    (Department of Human Evolutionary Biology - Harvard University)

Abstract

A key issue distinguishing prominent evolutionary models of human life history is whether prolonged childhood evolved to facilitate learning in a skill- and strength-intensive foraging niche requiring high levels of cooperation. Considering the diversity of environments humans inhabit, children's activities should also reflect local social and ecological opportunities and constraints. To better understand our species' developmental plasticity, the present paper compiled a time allocation dataset for children and adolescents from twelve hunter-gatherer and mixed-subsistence forager societies (n = 690; 3–18 years; 52% girls). We investigated how environmental factors, local ecological risk, and men and women's relative energetic contributions were associated with cross-cultural variation in child and adolescent time allocation to childcare, food production, domestic work, and play. Annual precipitation, annual mean temperature, and net primary productivity were not strongly associated with child and adolescent activity budgets. Increased risk of encounters with dangerous animals and dehydration negatively predicted time allocation to childcare and domestic work, but not food production. Gender differences in child and adolescent activity budgets were stronger in societies where men made greater direct contributions to food production than women. We interpret these findings as suggesting that children and their caregivers adjust their activities to facilitate the early acquisition of knowledge which helps children safely cooperate with adults in a range of social and ecological environments. These findings compel us to consider how childhood may have also evolved to facilitate flexible participation in productive activities in early life.

Suggested Citation

  • Sheina Lew-Levy & Rachel Reckin & Stephen M. Kissler & Ilaria Pretelli & Adam H. Boyette & Alyssa Crittenden & Renée V. Hagen & Randall Haas & Karen Kramer & Matthew J. O'Brien & Jeremy Koster & Koji , 2022. "Socioecology shapes child and adolescent time allocation in twelve hunter-gatherer and mixed-subsistence forager societies," Post-Print hal-03673386, HAL.
  • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03673386
    DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12217-1
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-03673386
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Carol R. Ember & Erik J. Ringen & Jack Dunnington & Emily Pitek, 2020. "Resource stress and subsistence diversification across societies," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 3(9), pages 737-745, September.
    2. Brewis, Alexandra & Choudhary, Neetu & Wutich, Amber, 2019. "Household water insecurity may influence common mental disorders directly and indirectly through multiple pathways: Evidence from Haiti," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 1-1.
    3. Ronald D. Lee & Karen L. Kramer, 2002. "Children's Economic Roles in the Maya Family Life Cycle: Cain, Caldwell, and Chayanov Revisited," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 28(3), pages 475-499, September.
    4. Mark Dyble & Jack Thorley & Abigail E. Page & Daniel Smith & Andrea Bamberg Migliano, 2019. "Engagement in agricultural work is associated with reduced leisure time among Agta hunter-gatherers," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 3(8), pages 792-796, August.
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