Hum Nat (2009) 20:25–51
DOI 10.1007/s12110-009-9059-3
Effects of Harsh and Unpredictable Environments
in Adolescence on Development of Life History
Strategies
A Longitudinal Test of an Evolutionary Model
Barbara Hagenah Brumbach &
Aurelio José Figueredo & Bruce J. Ellis
Published online: 6 February 2009
# Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2009
Abstract The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health data were used to
test predictions from life history theory. We hypothesized that (1) in young
adulthood an emerging life history strategy would exist as a common factor
underlying many life history traits (e.g., health, relationship stability, economic
success), (2) both environmental harshness and unpredictability would account for
unique variance in expression of adolescent and young adult life history strategies,
and (3) adolescent life history traits would predict young adult life history strategy.
These predictions were supported. The current findings suggest that the environmental parameters of harshness and unpredictability have concurrent effects on life
history development in adolescence, as well as longitudinal effects into young
adulthood. In addition, life history traits appear to be stable across developmental
time from adolescence into young adulthood.
Keywords Life history theory . Add Health . Adolescent health .
Environmental harshness . Environmental unpredictability
How do developmental experiences and personality processes in adolescence
interact to shape quality of life in early adulthood? Life history theory, based in
evolutionary biology, provides a powerful framework for addressing this important
B. H. Brumbach (*)
Department of Psychology, Northern Arizona University, P. O. Box 15106, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5036,
USA
e-mail: Barbara.Brumbach@nau.edu
A. J. Figueredo
Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
B. J. Ellis
John & Doris Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ,
USA