Who keeps children alive? A review of the effects of kin on child survival

Evolution and human behavior Vol/Iss. 29(1) Elsevier Published In Pages: 1-18
By Sear, Rebecca, Mace, Ruth

Abstract

Evolutionary anthropologists have long emphasized the puzzle of short inter-birth intervals, extended childhoods, and long post-reproductive lives of humans, in particular the problem it poses for raising children. While there is agreement that mothers receive assistance from kin to offset the high costs of raising children, opinion is equivocal as to which kin help and to what extent they help. Here the authors review 45 studies from historical and contemporary natural fertility populations to assess the effects of various types of kin on child survival rates.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
Various sourcesOther researchers

Documents and Hypotheses Filed By:erik.ringen