Publication:
Harshness and unpredictability during childhood: an approach from life-history theory to understanding risk behaviors

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorGuzmán Lavín, Eugenio
dc.contributor.authorFigueroa, Oriana
dc.contributor.authorMuñoz Reyes, José Antonio
dc.contributor.authorAldunate, Nerea
dc.contributor.authorPolo Rodrigo, Pablo
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-15T18:59:53Z
dc.date.available2026-07-15T18:59:53Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description.abstractIntroduction: Previous studies have investigated the relationship between childhood experiences of harshness and unpredictability and risky adult behaviors from a life-history theory perspective. However, findings have been inconsistent, suggesting that the relationship between early environments and current behavior is complex and may be influenced by moderating variables. This study examined whether childhood harshness (resource scarcity) and unpredictability (proximal environmental instability) were positively related to risk propensity, considering reproductive strategy-related trade-offs (i.e., the age of first sexual intercourse and the age of menarche) and current environmental factors (i.e., being in a committed relationship, perceived family support, and poverty rate of the participant’s municipality) as potential moderators. Methods: We sampled 368 individuals in two settings: college classrooms and a controlled laboratory environment. Results: Overall, we did not find a clear relationship between perceived childhood environment and risk-taking. Contrary to expectations, we found a positive relationship between perceived childhood harshness and risk propensity in women who delayed their first sexual intercourse. Exploratory analyses by data collection setting revealed that harsh and unpredictable childhood environments may impact risk propensity differently, though no coherent pattern emerged. Discussion: This study underscores the importance of context dependence and the need to consider additional variables that may moderate the relationship between childhood experiences and risk-taking behaviors.
dc.description.versionVersión publicada
dc.format.extent12 p.
dc.identifier.citationFront. Psychol. 16:1624659
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1624659
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/11447/10831
dc.language.isoen
dc.rightsAtribución-NoComercial-CompartirIgual 3.0 Chile (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 CL)
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/cl/
dc.subjectLife-history theory
dc.subjectRisk propensity
dc.subjectEarly environment
dc.subjectLife-history strategies
dc.subjectHarshness
dc.subjectUnpredictability
dc.titleHarshness and unpredictability during childhood: an approach from life-history theory to understanding risk behaviors
dc.typeArticle
dcterms.accessRightsAcceso abierto
dcterms.sourceFrontiers in Psychology
dspace.entity.typePublication
relation.isAuthorOfPublicationf83125ff-276b-4faa-99b5-4edfacb6db8a
relation.isAuthorOfPublication9935a7bc-e3dd-424e-ba97-7e9fdaa7f1bd
relation.isAuthorOfPublication85801abe-e80d-4974-abea-b71332a44100
relation.isAuthorOfPublication.latestForDiscoveryf83125ff-276b-4faa-99b5-4edfacb6db8a

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Harshness and unpredictability during childhood. an approach from life-history theory to understanding risk behaviors.pdf
Size:
1.1 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
347 B
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download

Collections

Artículos Gobierno

Implementado por OpenGeek Services