Class

Article

Graduation Year

2018

College

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department

Sociology, Social Work & Anthropology Department

Faculty Mentor

Dr. Nanda Grow

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Abstract

In humans, there are evolutionary trade-offs between energy allocated to reproduction and embodied capital (investing in extended development). We see selection toward early and frequent reproduction over embodied capital in the predominantly Latter-Day Saints (LDS) culture of Utah.

We hypothesize that encouragement toward reproduction in LDS individuals has tradeoffs with embodied capital compared to non-LDS individuals. We collected data through an anonymous online survey (Qualtrics) distributed to a stratified random sample of LDS and non-LDS college students and recent graduates of Utah State University in Logan, UT (n=45) and Texas A&M in College Station, Texas (n=17) . We include questions on marital status, religion, sexual behavior, reproductive goals, and college grades.

Current results suggest that LDS students are much less likely to be sexually active when unmarried compared to non-LDS students (14% compared to 44%). Non-LDS students in both samples are 65% more likely to have used birth control methods compared to sexually active LDS students. The percentage of participants that wanted children in the future differed according to affiliation with the LDS church X 2 (12, N=58)=31.95, p

These results suggest differences in embodied capital priorities between LDS and non-LDS students. This study applies evolutionary theory to cultural behaviors specific to the LDS faith, including previously untested ideas that are relevant to biological anthropology. Here we show connections between religion, reproduction, and evolutionary fitness in a subset of American culture.

Location

North Atrium

Start Date

4-13-2017 10:30 AM

End Date

4-13-2017 11:45 AM

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Apr 13th, 10:30 AM Apr 13th, 11:45 AM

Be Fruitful and Multiply: Fertility and Tradeoffs in Latter-Day Saints

North Atrium

In humans, there are evolutionary trade-offs between energy allocated to reproduction and embodied capital (investing in extended development). We see selection toward early and frequent reproduction over embodied capital in the predominantly Latter-Day Saints (LDS) culture of Utah.

We hypothesize that encouragement toward reproduction in LDS individuals has tradeoffs with embodied capital compared to non-LDS individuals. We collected data through an anonymous online survey (Qualtrics) distributed to a stratified random sample of LDS and non-LDS college students and recent graduates of Utah State University in Logan, UT (n=45) and Texas A&M in College Station, Texas (n=17) . We include questions on marital status, religion, sexual behavior, reproductive goals, and college grades.

Current results suggest that LDS students are much less likely to be sexually active when unmarried compared to non-LDS students (14% compared to 44%). Non-LDS students in both samples are 65% more likely to have used birth control methods compared to sexually active LDS students. The percentage of participants that wanted children in the future differed according to affiliation with the LDS church X 2 (12, N=58)=31.95, p

These results suggest differences in embodied capital priorities between LDS and non-LDS students. This study applies evolutionary theory to cultural behaviors specific to the LDS faith, including previously untested ideas that are relevant to biological anthropology. Here we show connections between religion, reproduction, and evolutionary fitness in a subset of American culture.