JOURNAL ARTICLE

Findings on Evolutionary Psychology Reported by Researchers at McMaster University (Harshness Predicts Reproduction in Brazilian Municipalities and US Counties: A Life History Theory Approach).

  • Published In: Psychology & Psychiatry Journal, 2026. P. 237 1 of 2

  • Database: Psychology Source 2 of 2

Abstract

This article focuses on research examining the Psychosocial Acceleration Theory (PAT), which suggests that harsh and unpredictable childhood environments influence earlier and more frequent reproduction. The study analyzed data from 4,135 Brazilian municipalities and 2,763 U.S. counties, finding that indicators of ecological harshness predicted reproductive patterns 10 to 14 years later, though some results contradicted PAT predictions. Variables such as divorce rates negatively predicted reproduction in both countries, while education and employment were not significant predictors in Brazil. The research was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and conducted by McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Psychology & Psychiatry Journal. 2026/05, p237
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Psychology
  • Publication Date:2026
  • ISSN:1944-2718
  • Accession Number:193210978
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Psychology & Psychiatry Journal is the property of NewsRx and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Looking to go deeper into this topic? Look for more articles on EBSCOhost.