Alternatives to the grandmother hypothesis: a meta-analysis of the association between grandparental and grandchild survival in patrilineal populations

Human Nature • Vol/Iss. 22 • Published In • Pages: 201-222 •
By Strassmann, Beverly I., Garrard, Wendy M.

Hypothesis

Survival of the maternal grandparents, rather than paternal grandparents, will be associated with grandchild survival (201).

Note

Meta analysis and modified vote-counting analysis were used. Both tests yielded similar results.

Test

Test NameSupportSignificanceCoefficientTail
OtherSupportedp<.05UNKNOWNUNKNOWN

Variables

Variable NameVariable Type OCM Term(s)
Paternal/maternal GrandparentIndependentGrandparents And Grandchildren
Relative Risk Of Grandoffspring Mortality If The Grandparent Is AliveDependentMortality

Related Hypotheses

Main AuthorHypothesis
Sear, RebeccaMaternal grandmothers will tend to increase child survival more than paternal grandmothers (10).
Sear, RebeccaMaternal grandfathers will have a greater effect on child survival than paternal grandfathers (10).
Apple, Dorrian"If the grandchildren's relation with one set of grandparents has less friendly equality than with the other, the former grandparents will be those related to the grandchildren through the parent who possesses (or whose lineage member possesses) more household authority in the nuclear family" (657)
Textor, Robert B. Societies in which grandparents and grandchildren are not friendly equals will have partial or complete segregation of adolescent males (370, 356).
Apple, Dorrian"For societies in which the relationships of grandchildren are the same with both sets of grandparents, . . . when the grandparental generation continues to exercise considerable authority over the parental generation after the grandchildren are born, the relation of the grandchildren to the grandparents will not be one of friendly equality . . . ; when there is no such authority, there will be friendly equality" (657)