Testing a life history model of psychopathology: A replication and extension
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Testing a life history model of psychopathology: A replication and extension Bianca L. Kahl 1
&
Phillip S. Kavanagh 1,2 & David H. Gleaves 1
Accepted: 9 September 2020 # Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract The life history model of psychopathology provides an alternate framework for understanding the development and etiology of psychopathology; however, presently there is minimal empirical support for this perspective. The current study (N = 343) replicated and extended previous research, investigating the associations between life history traits, including demographic indicators, attachment, and psychopathology, in a mental health and general population sample. The study specifically aimed to explore whether life history traits were associated with a general factor of psychopathology or whether they could also predict specific symptom groups, with results suggesting that life history traits could predict both. Furthermore, results revealed that people who expressed faster life history traits reported elevated general psychopathology; however, symptoms were in fact associated with traits of both slow and fast life history strategies. Specifically, interpersonal sensitivity and depression were experienced at higher rates for people who express higher levels of traits reflective of a faster life history strategy; whereas, somatization and anxiety were experienced at higher rates for people who express more traits typical of a slower strategy. Interestingly, paranoid ideation was experienced at higher rates for males who express faster life history traits. This research has several theoretical and practical implications, in replicating and extending previous studies, providing insight into psychopathological symptomatology, including variation in individuals’ risks for developing a range of mental disorders. Keywords Life history theory . Life history strategies . Psychopathology . Attachment . Mental health . P-factor
Although it is well understood that negative childhood experiences increase an individual’s risk of experiencing psychological distress and psychopathology (Beauchaine and Hinshaw 2013; Del Giudice 2014), the evolutionary framework offers a unique perspective of developmental psychopathology, with growing applications of life history theory to explain the development and experience of mental disorders. According to life history theory, an individual’s adaptive choices and resource allocation in response to their experienced environmental pressures, result in different developmental trajectories and life history strategies Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-01062-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. * Bianca L. Kahl [email protected] 1
University of South Australia, Justice and Society, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
2
University of Canberra, Discipline of Psychology, 11 Kirinari St, Bruce ACT 2617, Australia
(Del Giudice a
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