An evolutionary perspective on perceived parental care and closeness in adolescents: how do biological and social kinship play out within families in the U.S.?

摘要: Consistent with inclusive fitness theory, evolutionary biologists predict that individuals care more for their biological than social children and hence assess the relationships to parents better stepchildren. To test this assumption, we use data from U.S. National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Unlike many other studies have been conducted so far, survey allows us analyze consequences dynamic between parent-child within same families. We comparisons sibling pairs fixed-effects regression achieve within-family comparison. Both descriptive multivariate results confirm – even after controlling relevant influences parenthood matters regard children's relationship assessments (perceived parental closeness relationship) in both resident fathers mothers. In discussion, comment on possible integration sociological perspectives close some recommendations future collection could allow researchers relative influence a fine-grained level.