Luis Miguel Fernández-Galván, Mireia Adelantado-Renau, Maria Reyes Beltran-Valls, Diego Moliner-Urdiales
{"title":"Relationship Between Dietary Patterns and Blood Pressure During Adolescence: A Longitudinal Analysis From Dados Study","authors":"Luis Miguel Fernández-Galván, Mireia Adelantado-Renau, Maria Reyes Beltran-Valls, Diego Moliner-Urdiales","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.24199","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.24199","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Previous research in adults has suggested that healthy dietary patterns could be an effective strategy for blood pressure (BP) control. However, during adolescence, the scientific literature examining this relationship is scarce and controversial since inverse and null associations have been reported. Thus, the aim of our study was to analyze the relationship between the level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables at baseline with changes in BP over a two-year period during adolescence.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The analyses included 197 adolescents (92 girls) aged 13.9 ± 0.3 years. Adherence to the MD and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables were assessed using the KIDMED questionnaire and a food frequency questionnaire, respectively. BP values were measured using an automatic sphygmomanometer according to standardized procedures.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Adolescents with high adherence levels to the MD, and high consumption of vegetables (but not fruits) at baseline, showed smaller increases in diastolic BP changes over two years (percentage of reduction ranging from ~48% to ~88%, <i>all p</i> < 0.026). No significant relationships were identified in systolic BP over the two-year period.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our findings underscore the importance of promoting MD and vegetable consumption to reduce diastolic BP during adolescence, contributing to lowering future cardiovascular risk.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11683446/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142907911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Secular Trends in the Median Age at Menarche and Spermarche Among Chinese Children From 2000 to 2019 and Analysis of Physical Examination Indicators Factor","authors":"Jiajia Hu, Wenhao Han, Meng Zhou, Yixiao Geng, Junna Zhang, Fanke Zhou, Wencan Wu, Xiaolei Ban, Xiaomin Lou, Xian Wang","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.24198","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.24198","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objectives</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This research aimed to understand the long-term trends in the age of menarche among girls and spermarche among boys, and to analyze the factors that may influence the onset of menarche and first spermarche.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The study was based on data from 49 566 students in Henan Province collected from the Chinese National Surveys on Students' Constitution and Health (CNSSCH) conducted between 2000 and 2019. Median age at menarche and spermarche was estimated by probit analysis. <i>t</i>-Tests were used to analyze the influence of menarche and first spermarche on physical examination indexes of adolescent children, and the chi-squared test was used to compare whether the differences in physical activity were statistically significant.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The age at menarche has decreased from 12.33 years in 2000 to 12.00 years in 2019, and the age at first spermarche has decreased from 14.01 years in 2000 to 13.99 years in 2019. The age at first spermarche in urban boys (13.61 years in 2000; 12.94 years in 2014) was consistently younger than that in rural boys (14.43 years in 2000; aged 13.08 in 2014), except in 2019. The age of menarche in urban girls (12.23 years in 2000; 11.89 years in 2019) was always earlier than that in rural girls (12.44 years in 2000; 12.05 years in 2019).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The age at menarche and spermarche for children in Henan Province generally showed a decreasing trend from 2000 to 2019. The status of BMI is significantly associated with the early onset of puberty in children.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142803257","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Josh Brahinsky, Jonas Mago, Mark Miller, Shaila Catherine, Michael Lifshitz
{"title":"The Spiral of Attention, Arousal, and Release: A Comparative Phenomenology of Jhāna Meditation and Speaking in Tongues","authors":"Josh Brahinsky, Jonas Mago, Mark Miller, Shaila Catherine, Michael Lifshitz","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.24189","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.24189","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Buddhist Jhāna meditation and the Christian practice of speaking in tongues appear wildly distinct. These spiritual techniques differ in their ethical, theological, and historical frames and seem, from the outside, to produce markedly different states of consciousness—one a state of utter calm and the other of high emotional arousal. Yet, our phenomenological interviews with experienced practitioners in the USA found significant points of convergence. Practitioners in both traditions describe a dynamic relationship between focused attention, aroused joy, and a sense of letting go or release that they describe as crucial to their practice. This paper highlights these shared phenomenological features and theorizes possible underlying mechanisms. Analyzing our phenomenological data through the lens of various theories of brain function, including sensory gating and predictive processing, we propose that these practices both engage an autonomic field built through a spiral between attention, arousal, and release (AAR).</p>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"36 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11645872/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142803258","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Luiz Otavio Ribeiro Garcia, Ruda Moreira, Maria-Raquel G. Silva
{"title":"Occupational Stress and Sleep of Military Police Officers From Rio de Janeiro, Brazil","authors":"Luiz Otavio Ribeiro Garcia, Ruda Moreira, Maria-Raquel G. Silva","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.24184","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.24184","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Military Police officers of Rio de Janeiro's State have been considered the most lethal security forces in Brazil, corresponding to 52.35% of deaths in policing actions. The main aim of this study was to identify occupational stress among military police officers in Rio de Janeiro State and its relationship with the psychosocial environment, sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Two hundred and forty-two military policemen, divided into two groups (elite and non-elite), were evaluated occupational stress by the Lipp's Stress Symptoms Inventory (LSSI), daytime sleepiness (DS) by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and sleep quality (SQ) by the Pitsburgh Sleep Quality Index.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Military police officers (entire sample) showed dissatisfaction related to psychological support from the military institution (<i>p</i> = 0.004), about the inefficiency of the judicial system (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and their low popularity towards society (<i>p</i> = 0.009). The group of elite police officers slept significantly less (<i>p</i> = 0.026) and, in general, suffered more from severe daytime sleepiness, had poorer SQ and showed lower levels of occupational stress than their peers. It was possible to identify that stress can be detected, developed, and intensified in military police officers as a result of the environment in which they are exposed and this interferes significantly in sleep and daytime sleepiness (<i>p</i> < 0.05).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Through this study, it is hoped that measures can be implemented to enhance the work environment and thereby improve the quality of life for this military population. Furthermore, it is intended to stimulate more comprehensive and longitudinal studies, particularly inclusive of female military personnel.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142781685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lorena Saavedra-Garcia, Miguel Moscoso-Porras, Ysabella Benites-Castillo, Luis German-Montejo, Paula Andrea Diaz-Valencia, Noël C. Barengo, Heidi von Harscher, Jamee Guerra Valencia
{"title":"The Association Between Depressive Symptoms and Waist Circumference Among Normal-Weight Individuals in the Peruvian Population: A 3-Year Pooled Cross-Sectional Study","authors":"Lorena Saavedra-Garcia, Miguel Moscoso-Porras, Ysabella Benites-Castillo, Luis German-Montejo, Paula Andrea Diaz-Valencia, Noël C. Barengo, Heidi von Harscher, Jamee Guerra Valencia","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.24194","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.24194","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Limited information is available on the association between depressive symptoms and waist circumference (WC) in individuals with normal weight. This study aimed to analyze the association between depressive symptoms and WC among individuals aged 18 years or older with normal weight in the Peruvian population between 2019 and 2021.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Analytical cross-sectional study. Data from the Peruvian Demographic and Health Survey (2019–2021) were analyzed. The sample consisted of 26 933 participants. The outcome variable was WC. The exposure variables included the overall Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score and severity of depressive symptoms. Generalized linear models of the Gaussian family estimated the effects with <i>β</i> coefficients for the associations between WC and depressive symptoms stratified by age and sex.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A significant inverse association was observed between depressive symptoms and WC in young (< 35 years) individuals of both sexes. In young males, a dose–response relationship emerged, with greater severity of depressive symptoms associated with progressively lower WC. Specifically, inverse associations were found for moderate (<i>β</i> = −1.74, 95% CI: −3.25 to −0.23), moderately severe (<i>β</i> = −2.81, 95% CI: −4.71 to −0.91), and severe (<i>β</i> = −2.75, 95% CI: −5.11 to −0.40) depressive symptoms.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Among young individuals of both sexes with a normal weight, depressive symptoms were inversely associated with WC. These findings underscore the need for nuanced considerations of age and sex when exploring the interplay of depression and abdominal adiposity in individuals with normal weight.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142774326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anneliese Long, Anne Z. Steiner, Amanda L. Thompson, Hannah R. Jahnke, Benjamin S. Harris, Anne Marie Jukic
{"title":"Inflammation and Ovarian Function in Reproductive-Aged Women","authors":"Anneliese Long, Anne Z. Steiner, Amanda L. Thompson, Hannah R. Jahnke, Benjamin S. Harris, Anne Marie Jukic","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.24196","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.24196","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Inflammation is a marker of immune activation. Inflammation may have an effect on both ovarian function and luteal function, both essential to pregnancy. High inflammation may also signal dysregulated processes within the ovary, which could be in part measured through Anti-Müllerian hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and inhibin B levels.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To determine the relationship between inflammation, measured by C-reactive protein, and three biomarkers of ovarian function during the early follicular phase: Anti-Müllerian hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and inhibin B.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Secondary cross-sectional analysis of data and serum obtained in Time to Conceive, a prospective cohort study sample of 843 women attempting pregnancy in central North Carolina from 2008 to 2016. Participants were aged 30 and 44 years, had no history of infertility, endometriosis, or polycystic ovarian syndrome, and were not currently breastfeeding. Serum samples were obtained on days 2, 3, or 4 of the menstrual cycle. C-reactive protein (natural-log transformed), Anti-Müllerian hormone (natural-log transformed), follicle-stimulating hormone (natural-log transformed), and inhibin B (untransformed) were measured in serum. Diminished ovarian reserve was examined dichotomously and defined as an Anti-Müllerian hormone level below 0.7 ng/mL.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The analysis included 703 participants with C-reactive protein measured. In an adjusted linear regression model, a 20% increase in C-reactive protein was associated with a 0.57 pg/mL decrease in inhibin B (95% CI: −0.84 to −0.29 pg/mL) and a 0.535% decrease in follicle-stimulating hormone (95% CI: −1.01 to −0.06). Although there was not a significant relationship between Anti-Müllerian hormone and C-reactive protein, a 20% increase in C-reactive protein was associated with a 0.87% increase in Anti-Müllerian hormone (95% CI: −0.27 to 2.01). C-reactive protein was not associated with the odds of diminished ovarian reserve in an adjusted logistic regression model (OR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.77–1.20).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Inflammation, as measured by C-reactive protein, is associated with early follicular phase follicle-stimulating hormone and inhibin B, although this is not true of AMH. Inflammation may exert an effect on ovarian function.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142774325","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Paula S. Tallman, Rebecca A. Seligman, Felicia C. Madimenos, Melissa A. Liebert, Tara J. Cepon-Robins, J. Josh Snodgrass, Thomas W. McDade, Lawrence S. Sugiyama
{"title":"Somatic Symptoms Are Associated With Elevated Blood Pressure and Epstein–Barr Virus Antibodies Among Shuar of the Ecuadorian Amazon","authors":"Paula S. Tallman, Rebecca A. Seligman, Felicia C. Madimenos, Melissa A. Liebert, Tara J. Cepon-Robins, J. Josh Snodgrass, Thomas W. McDade, Lawrence S. Sugiyama","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.24191","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.24191","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study tests the hypothesis that self-reported somatic symptoms are associated with biomarkers of stress, including elevated blood pressure and suppressed immune function, among Shuar adults living in the Ecuadorian Amazon.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Research was conducted in three Shuar communities in the Upano Valley of the Ecuadorian Amazon and included the collection of biomarkers and a structured morbidity interview. Participants self-reported somatic symptoms such as headaches, body pain, fatigue, and other bodily symptoms. We examined whether the number of somatic symptoms reported was associated with measures of immune (Epstein–Barr virus [EBV] antibodies) and cardiovascular (blood pressure) functioning in 97 Shuar adults (37 women, 60 men; ages 18–65 years). Multivariate linear regression analyses were used to examine the relationships among somatic symptoms and stress biomarkers, controlling for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), active infection, level of education, and income.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Controlling for relevant covariates, Shuar adults reporting the highest level of somatic symptoms (three symptoms) were more likely to exhibit elevated systolic (<i>β</i> = 0.20, <i>p</i> = 0.04) and diastolic blood pressure (<i>β</i> = 0.23, <i>p</i> = 0.03), in comparison to adults reporting no symptoms. Shuar adults reporting two symptoms, compared to no symptoms, were more likely to exhibit elevated EBV antibody concentrations (<i>β</i> = 0.34, <i>p</i> = < 0.01).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>These preliminary findings demonstrate that somatic symptoms reported by Shuar men and women are associated with physiological measures widely associated with chronic psychosocial stress. These findings complement the cross-cultural literature in medical anthropology documenting the close connection between the expression of somatic symptoms and stressful life circumstances and highlight the important role that human biologists can play in exploring biocultural phenomena.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11670149/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142755850","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Urbanization and Infectious Disease","authors":"Achsah F. Dorsey","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.24197","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.24197","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The United Nations currently estimates that over half of the global population has lived in cities since 2017 and that this proportion is continuing to grow, particularly in the Global South. While urbanization is not new, increased population density combined with accelerating rates of (re)emerging and noncommunicable diseases as well as growing economic disparities has created new challenges to human health and well-being. Here, I examine peri-urban communities, peripheral settlements on the edges of urban areas populated by rural people, and argue that these areas are often overlooked, despite becoming increasingly common. Thus, human biologists should move beyond categorizing these spaces as transitional. Using unplanned, peri-urban communities around Lima, Peru as a case study, I detail the complexity of political ecological factors that impact infectious disease risk and rates in peri-urban communities. Using disease mechanisms, I demonstrate the importance of a biocultural approach and a political ecology perspective when investigating infectious disease. I highlight how human biologists and anthropologists are uniquely positioned to explore the heterogeneity of infectious disease patterns and pathways in an increasingly urbanized world.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142741266","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tanvi Padalkar, Jessica Perrotte, Christopher Dana Lynn, Austin Lee, Aidan Nuttall, Eric C. Shattuck
{"title":"Using Latent Class Analysis to Characterize Sickness Signaling in Relation to Familism and Public and Private Religiosity in a Stratified US Sample","authors":"Tanvi Padalkar, Jessica Perrotte, Christopher Dana Lynn, Austin Lee, Aidan Nuttall, Eric C. Shattuck","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.24192","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.24192","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In response to contracting an infection, individuals usually display a suite of external signs (including sickness behavior) as an outward indication of illness. This context-dependent phenomenon seems to weigh the benefits and costs of eliciting sympathy by indicating sickness versus hiding signs of illness to avoid exposing others to potential infection. In a dynamically social species like humans, non-kin may be as likely to respond to these signs with care as family members, particularly fellow church members. We explore the relative contributions of religiosity and familism in shaping self-reported sickness signaling styles as two dimensions central to human altruism using latent class analysis (LCA).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>LCA was used to characterize the signaling styles of the study participants. Data come from a large 2018 survey (<i>n</i> = 1259) of sickness and health behaviors among US adults. We used denomination public (church attendance) and private religiosity (time spent in prayer, meditation, etc.) and the God Locus of Health Control scale to assess the impact of God on health. Sickness signaling style was assessed with the SicknessQ and three additional items. Covariates included age, gender, education, and income.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We identified four classes (Familiar, Moderate, Gregarious, and Stoic) tied to signaling styles. The Familiar Signaling class displayed sickness verbally to familiar others, were the oldest, and were least guided by an internal sense of religion. The Moderate Signaling class was younger and had lower public and private religiosity (except regarding health issues) than the Stoic and Gregarious Signaling classes. The Gregarious class signaled to both close others and strangers and scored highest in familism and religiosity. The Stoic class did not verbally signal but indicated sickness worsening when around both close others and strangers, were less likely to be married or endorse private religiosity, and were least likely to recall recent illness as severe.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The signaling classes strongly resembled aspects of the introvert–ambivert–extrovert spectrum. We conclude that variation is important at multiple levels, including personality types, and potentially prevents the loss of immunological diversity.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"36 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142741267","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Introduction: The Influences of Religion and Spirituality on Human Biology","authors":"Christopher D. Lynn","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.24195","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.24195","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The objective of this special issue is to highlight the absence of religion and spirituality in the human biological enterprise. We have assembled a set of articles covering physiology, psychology, cognition, and neurophenomenology. The influences on human biology are diverse, yet many have been historically overlooked, which we hope this special issue takes a large step in remedying. Here, we outline how this issue came together and introduce readers to the articles to follow.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"36 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142741265","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}