Primate evidence on the late health effects of early-life adversity

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Jun 5;109(23):8866-71. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1205340109. Epub 2012 May 21.

Abstract

This paper exploits a unique ongoing experiment to analyze the effects of early rearing conditions on physical and mental health in a sample of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). We analyze the health records of 231 monkeys that were randomly allocated at birth across three rearing conditions: mother rearing, peer rearing, and surrogate peer rearing. We show that the lack of a secure attachment relationship in the early years engendered by adverse rearing conditions has detrimental long-term effects on health that are not compensated for by a normal social environment later in life.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology*
  • Female
  • Health Status
  • Macaca mulatta / physiology*
  • Male
  • Maternal Behavior
  • Maternal Deprivation*
  • Observation
  • Random Allocation
  • Regression Analysis
  • Sex Factors
  • Social Environment*
  • Stress, Psychological / physiopathology*