Citation

Uggla C, Mace R. Evol. Med. Public Health 2015; 2015(1): 266-277.

Affiliation

Department of Anthropology, University College London 14 Taviton Street, London, WC1H 0BW, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/emph/eov020

PMID

26338679

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Individual investment in health varies greatly within populations and results in significant differences in the risk of preventable death. Life history theory predicts that individuals should alter their investment in health (somatic maintenance) in response to ecological cues that shift the perceived fitness payoffs to such investments. However, previous research has failed to isolate the effects of different ecological factors on preventable death, and has often relied on macro-level data without individual controls. Here we test some key predictions concerning the local ecology - that higher extrinsic mortality rate (EMR), crime rate and mate-scarcity (male/female-biased sex ratio) at the ward-level - will be associated with a higher risk of preventable death.

METHODOLOGY: We use census-based data from Northern Ireland (n=927 150) on preventable death during an 8.7-year period from the 2001 Census and run Cox regressions for i) accident/suicide or alcohol-related death and ii) deaths from preventable diseases, for men and women separately, controlling for a wide range of individual variables.

RESULTS: We find evidence of ward-level EMR and crime rate being positively associated with preventable death among men, particularly men with low socioeconomic position. There was a tentative relationship between male-biased sex ratio and preventable death among women, but not among men.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Both behaviours that might lead to 'risky' death and health neglect might be adaptive responses to local ecologies. Efforts to reduce crime might be as effective as those to reduce extrinsic mortality, and both could have positive effects on various health behaviours.

Language: en