scholarly journals Costs of reproduction and ageing in the human female

2020 ◽  
Vol 375 (1811) ◽  
pp. 20190615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grazyna Jasienska
Keyword(s):  
Individual Variation ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Costs Of Reproduction ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
High Reproductive Effort ◽  
Reproductive Events ◽  
Developmental Conditions ◽  
Reproductive Processes

Evolutionary theories of ageing point to reproduction as a significant factor to consider when asking why ageing occurs and why there is inter-individual variation in its progression. Reproduction in human females is costly, in terms of energy, nutrients and metabolic adjustments. Thus, it is expected that women who experienced high reproductive effort resulting from multiple reproductive events will age faster. However, the evidence for long-term negative effects of reproduction is not conclusive. The lack of understanding of whether there are trade-offs between reproduction and ageing in women is partly due to methodological challenges. The costs of reproduction are often calculated based only on parity, while other elements contributing to these costs (e.g. breastfeeding, timing of reproduction) are neglected, which may significantly underestimate the total costs and obscure the all-important inter-individual variation in such costs. Costs must be evaluated in relation to individual characteristics, including developmental conditions, nutritional status and social support that a mother receives during reproduction. Furthermore, ageing and health must be assessed based on comprehensive markers rather than arbitrarily assembled variables. Finally, longitudinal rather than cross-sectional studies and new statistical approaches are needed to reveal how much of a decline in health and progressing ageing can actually be attributed to past reproductive processes. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Evolution of the primate ageing process'.

scholarly journals Examining the trade-offs between human fertility and longevity over three centuries using crowdsourced genealogy data

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0255528
Author(s):  
Chen-Hao Hsu ◽  
Oliver Posegga ◽  
Kai Fischbach ◽  
Henriette Engelhardt
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Human Fertility ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Historical Periods

The evolution theory of ageing predicts that reproduction comes with long-term costs of survival. However, empirical studies in human species report mixed findings of the relationship between fertility and longevity, which varies by populations, time periods, and individual characteristics. One explanation underscores that changes in survival conditions over historical periods can moderate the negative effect of human fertility on longevity. This study investigates the fertility-longevity relationship in Europe during a period of rapid modernisation (seventeenth to twentieth centuries) and emphasises the dynamics across generations. Using a crowdsourced genealogy dataset from the FamiLinx project, our sample consists of 81,924 women and 103,642 men born between 1601 and 1910 across 16 European countries. Results from multilevel analyses show that higher fertility has a significantly negative effect on longevity. For both women and men, the negative effects are stronger among the older cohorts and have reduced over time. Moreover, we find similar trends in the dynamic associations between fertility and longevity across four geographical regions in Europe. Findings and limitations of this study call for further investigations into the historical dynamics of multiple mechanisms behind the human evolution of ageing.

scholarly journals Benzene Exposure Analysis through S-Phenylmercapturic Acid in Urine at Platelet Levels in Footwear Workers in Sukajaya Village, Bogor Regency

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (E) ◽  
pp. 260-264
Author(s):  
Siti Norjannah ◽  
Ririn Arminsih Wulandari ◽  
Al Asyary
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Blood Cells ◽  
White Blood Cells ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Benzene Exposure ◽  
Platelet Counts ◽  
Automated Hematology Analyzer

BACKGROUND: Benzene is a toxic and carcinogenic compound whose presence in glue is endangering the health of workers in footwear workshops. One of its negative effects is its disruption of the bone marrow, which is where red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are produced. AIM: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship of benzene exposure with platelet levels in workers through examination of S-phenylmercapturic acid (S-PMA) concentrations in urine. METHODS: The design of the study was cross sectional, with 73 workers used as samples. The concentration of S-PMA was measured using Liquid chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry and platelet counts using an automated hematology analyzer. Direct interview was used to retrieve workers’ individual characteristics. RESULTS: The results showed an odds ratio (OR) value of 2.28 for correlation between S-PMA concentration and platelet levels. The results also showed an OR value of 1.58 for correlation between non-routine exercise habits and platelet levels and an OR value of 1.78 for correlation between alcohol consumption and platelet levels. Multivariable logistic regression test results showed an OR of 2.59 for workers with S-PMA concentration (>0.67 μg/g creatinine) on platelet counts after controlling for the variables of age and alcohol consumption. CONCLUSION: The study’s main recommendation is that information about the dangers of benzene in glue to health and how to avoid it should be disseminated to prevent benzene exposure.

Factors Influencing Academic Stress on Students of University of Economics and Business - Vietnam National University

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nham Phong Tuan ◽  
Nguyen Ngoc Quy ◽  
Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen ◽  
Hong Tra My ◽  
Tran Nhu Phu
Keyword(s):  
Academic Stress ◽  
Stress Factors ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Stress Scale ◽  
Perceptions And Attitudes ◽  
National University ◽  
Questionnaire Surveys ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of seven factors causing academic stress on students of University of Economics and Business - Vietnam National University: Lack of leisure time, Academic performance, Fear of failure, Academic overload, Finances, Competition between students, Relationships with university faculty. Based on the results of a practical survey of 185 students who are attending any courses at the University of Economics and Business - Vietnam National University, the study assesses the impact of stress factors on students. The thesis focuses on clarifying the concept of "stress" and the stress level of students, while pointing out its negative effects on students. This study includes two cross-sectional questionnaire surveys. The first survey uses a set of 16 questions to assess students’ perceptions and attitudes based on an instrument to measure academic stress - Educational Stress Scale for Adolescents (ESSA). The second survey aims to test internal consistency, the robustness of the previously established 7-factor structure. Henceforth, the model was brought back and used qualitatively, combined with Cronbach’s Alpha measurement test and EFA discovery factor analysis. This study was conducted from October 2019 to December 2019. From these practical analyzes, several proposals were made for the society, the school and the students themselves.

scholarly journals Discrimination and Health: The Mediating Effect of Acculturative Stress

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 5312
Author(s):  
Alfonso Urzúa ◽  
Alejandra Caqueo-Urízar ◽  
Diego Henríquez ◽  
David R. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Racial Discrimination ◽  
Acculturative Stress ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Ethnic Discrimination ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Cross Sectional

There is not much evidence on the effects of south–south migration and its consequences on physical and mental health. Our objective was to examine the mediating role of Acculturative Stress in the association between ethnic discrimination and racial discrimination with physical and mental health. This research is a non-experimental, analytical, cross-sectional study. A total of 976 adult Colombian migrants living in Chile were interviewed. We used the Everyday Discrimination Scale, the acculturative stress scale, and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-12) for health status; we found that racial and ethnic discrimination had a negative effect on physical and mental health. In the simultaneous presence of both types of discrimination, racial discrimination was completely absorbed by ethnic discrimination, the latter becoming a total mediator of the effect of racial discrimination on mental and physical health. Our findings are consistent with the literature, which suggests that there are various types of discrimination which, individually or in their intersectionality, can have negative effects on health.

scholarly journals Asthma patients experience increased symptoms of anxiety, depression and fear during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 147997312110296
Author(s):  
Geertje M de Boer ◽  
Laura Houweling ◽  
Rudi W Hendriks ◽  
Jan H Vercoulen ◽  
Gerdien A Tramper-Stranders ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Asthma Patients ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Patients Experience ◽  
Anxiety Depression

Population studies showed a decrease in psychological wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Asthma is associated with a negative effect on anxiety and depression, which might worsen during the COVID-19 lockdown. The aim of the study was to compare fear, anxiety and depression between asthma patients and patients wit hout asthma pre-COVID-19 and during COVID-19 pandemic. This study compares fear, anxiety and depression in asthma patients and controls between pre-COVID-19 and during COVID-19 lockdown with a cross-sectional online survey. Participants were invited to fill out several questionnaires pertaining to fear, anxiety, depression, asthma control and quality of life. Asthma patients (N = 37) displayed, during the course of the pandemic, a clinically relevant increase in anxiety (3.32 ± 2.95 vs. 6.68 ± 3.78; p < 0.001) and depression (1.30 ± 1.15 vs. 3.65 ± 3.31; p < 0.001), according to the hospital anxiety and depression levels (HADS) compared to pre-COVID-19 assessment. This was not seen in controls. Also, asthma patients displayed more anxiety about acquiring COVID-19 disease compared to controls ((5.11 ± 1.99 vs. 3.50 ± 2.79), p = 0.006). Patients with asthma experienced an increase in anxiety and depression levels and were more afraid of acquiring COVID-19 disease compared to controls. Also, patients with asthma were more likely to avoid healthcare facilities due to fear of acquiring COVID-19 disease compared to controls. Therefore, we advise health care workers to address these possible negative effects on mental health by phone or e-consults.

scholarly journals Characteristics associated with changes in food security status among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Soldavini ◽  
Hazael Andrew ◽  
Maureen Berner
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Food Security Status ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Security Module ◽  
Adult Food

Abstract The prevalence of food insecurity in the USA has increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic; however, past studies have not examined how the food security status of college students has been impacted. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in the prevalence of food insecurity; determine the proportion of students experiencing a change in food security status; and identify characteristics associated with changes in food security status from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic among a sample of college students. We administered a cross-sectional online survey to students from a large public university in the Southeastern USA. The 10-item U.S. Adult Food Security Module was used to assess food security status during the spring 2020 semester both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and students self-reported a variety of individual characteristics. The overall prevalence of food insecurity increased by approximately one-third during the spring 2020 semester from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic. When examining the types of changes in food security status experienced by students, 12% improved, 68% stayed the same, and 20% worsened. A variety of characteristics were associated with an improvement or worsening of food security status category from before to during the pandemic. Similar to what is seen in other reports, we found that the overall proportion of college students in our sample experiencing food insecurity increased during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, some students showed improvements in food security status. Approaches for addressing food insecurity during and beyond the pandemic are needed.

scholarly journals Stigma mastery in people living with HIV: gender similarities and theory

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Patrick Namisi ◽  
John C. Munene ◽  
Rhoda K. Wanyenze ◽  
Anne R. Katahoire ◽  
Rosalinda M. Parkes-Ratanshi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Women ◽  
Social Exclusion ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Hiv Diagnosis ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Related Stigma ◽  
Living With Hiv

Abstract Aims This study aimed to determine the prevalence of, factors associated with, and to build a theoretical framework for understanding Internalsed HIV-related Stigma Mastery (IHSM). Methods A cross-sectional study nested within a 2014 Stigma Reduction Cohort in Uganda was used. The PLHIV Stigma Index version 2008, was used to collect data from a random sample of 666 people living with HIV (PLHIV) stratified by gender and age. SPSS24 with Amos27 softwares were used to build a sequential-mediation model. Results The majority of participants were women (65%), aged ≥ 40 years (57%). Overall, IHSM was 45.5% among PLHIV, that increased with age. Specifically, higher IHSM correlated with men and older women “masculine identities” self-disclosure of HIV-diagnosis to family, sharing experiences with peers. However, lower IHSM correlated with feminine gender, the experience of social exclusion stress, fear of future rejection, and fear of social intimacy. Thus, IHSM social exclusion with its negative effects and age-related cognition are integrated into a multidimensional IHSM theoretical framework with a good model-to-data fit. Conclusion Internalised HIV-related Stigma Mastery is common among men and older women. Specificially, “masculine identities” self-disclose their own HIV-positive diagnosis to their family, share experiences with peers to create good relationships for actualising or empowerment in stigma mastery. However, social exclusion exacerbates series of negative effects that finally undermine stigma mastery by young feminine identities. Thus, stigma mastery is best explained by an integrated empowerment framework, that has implications for future practice, policy, and stigma-related research that we discuss.

scholarly journals Views on Aging and Well-Being in the Covid Crisis – A Longitudinal Study in Luxembourg

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 961-961
Author(s):  
Anna Kornadt ◽  
Martine Hoffmann ◽  
Elke Murdock ◽  
Josepha Nell ◽  
Isabelle Albert
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Health ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Individual Development ◽  
Subjective Age ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Social Loss ◽  
Physical Decline

Abstract During the Covid-Crisis, stereotypes of older adults as helpless and vulnerable were spread, and intergenerational conflict was stirred more or less openly. We thus focused on perceived ageism during the crisis and its effects on well-being and health of older adults. Since views on aging are multifaceted and can be both, risk and resource for individual development, we assessed people’s self-perceptions of aging (SPA) as social loss, continued growth and physical decline and subjective age (SA). We hypothesized that people with SPA of social loss and physical decline would be more susceptible to negative effects of perceived ageism, whereas those with SPA of continued growth and younger SA would be less affected. NT1 = 611 community-dwelling adults aged 60 – 98 (Mage = 69.92 years) were recruited in June 2020 online and via phone in Luxembourg. In September 2020, participants will be contacted again for a follow-up. Analyses with cross-sectional data show that participants who felt more discriminated reported lower life satisfaction after the onset of the crisis (r = -.35) and worse subjective health (r = -.14). SPA of social loss and higher SA increased the negative effect of ageism on well-being (beta = -.57) and subjective health (beta = -.53), respectively. Our results point to mid- and long-term consequences of age discriminatory and stereotype-based crisis communication for the well-being of older adults and the importance of individual SPA in critical situations.

scholarly journals The physiological costs of reproduction in small mammals

2007 ◽  
Vol 363 (1490) ◽  
pp. 375-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
John R Speakman
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Life History Evolution ◽  
Indirect Costs ◽  
Direct Costs ◽  
Costs Of Reproduction ◽  
Dominant Component ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Almost All

Life-history trade-offs between components of fitness arise because reproduction entails both gains and costs. Costs of reproduction can be divided into ecological and physiological costs. The latter have been rarely studied yet are probably a dominant component of the effect. A deeper understanding of life-history evolution will only come about once these physiological costs are better understood. Physiological costs may be direct or indirect. Direct costs include the energy and nutrient demands of the reproductive event, and the morphological changes that are necessary to facilitate achieving these demands. Indirect costs may be optional ‘compensatory costs’ whereby the animal chooses to reduce investment in some other aspect of its physiology to maximize the input of resource to reproduction. Such costs may be distinguished from consequential costs that are an inescapable consequence of the reproductive event. In small mammals, the direct costs of reproduction involve increased energy, protein and calcium demands during pregnancy, but most particularly during lactation. Organ remodelling is necessary to achieve the high demands of lactation and involves growth of the alimentary tract and associated organs such as the liver and pancreas. Compensatory indirect costs include reductions in thermogenesis, immune function and physical activity. Obligatory consequential costs include hyperthermia, bone loss, disruption of sleep patterns and oxidative stress. This is unlikely to be a complete list. Our knowledge of these physiological costs is currently at best described as rudimentary. For some, we do not even know whether they are compensatory or obligatory. For almost all of them, we have no idea of exact mechanisms or how these costs translate into fitness trade-offs.

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