@article{ApanasewiczGrothScheffleretal.2020, author = {Apanasewicz, Anna and Groth, Detlef and Scheffler, Christiane and Hermanussen, Michael and Piosek, Magdalena and Wychowaniec, Patrycja and Babiszewska, Magdalena and Barbarska, Olga and Ziomkiewicz, Anna}, title = {Traumatized women's infants are bigger than children of mothers without traumas}, series = {Journal of biological and clinical anthropology : Anthropologischer Anzeiger}, volume = {77}, journal = {Journal of biological and clinical anthropology : Anthropologischer Anzeiger}, number = {5}, publisher = {Schweizerbart science publishers}, address = {Stuttgart}, issn = {0003-5548}, doi = {10.1127/anthranz/2020/1285}, pages = {359 -- 374}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Life history theory predicts that experiencing stress during the early period of life will result in accelerated growth and earlier maturation. Indeed, animal and some human studies documented a faster pace of growth in the offspring of stressed mothers. Recent advances in epigenetics suggest that the effects of early developmental stress might be passed across the generations. However, evidence for such intergenerational transmission is scarce, at least in humans. Here we report the results of the study investigating the association between childhood trauma in mothers and physical growth in their children during the first months of life. Anthropometric and psychological data were collected from 99 mothers and their exclusively breastfed children at the age of 5 months. The mothers completed the Early Life Stress Questionnaire to assess childhood trauma. The questionnaire includes questions about the most traumatic events that they had experienced before the age of 12 years. Infant growth was evaluated based on the anthropometric measurements of weight, length, and head circumference. Also, to control for the size of maternal investment, the composition of breast milk samples taken at the time of infant anthropometric measurements was investigated. The children of mothers with higher early life stress tended to have higher weight and bigger head circumference. The association between infant anthropometrics and early maternal stress was not affected by breast milk composition, suggesting that the effect of maternal stress on infant growth was independent of the size of maternal investment. Our results demonstrate that early maternal trauma may affect the pace of growth in the offspring and, in consequence, lead to a faster life history strategy. This effect might be explained via changes in offspring epigenetics.}, language = {en} } @book{BaumgartBinderCeglareketal.2001, author = {Baumgart, Ute and Binder, Karin and Ceglarek, Petra and Degener, Mirko and Henrich, Ruth and Herboth, J{\"o}rg and H{\"o}hne, Janet and Krieger, Helga and Lohwaßer, Roswitha and Metz, Anna-Marie and Piotrowski, Horst and Rode, J{\"u}rgen and Scheffler, Christiane}, title = {Gesundheitsf{\"o}rderung an der Hochschule}, series = {Schriftenreihe des VDSI}, volume = {21}, journal = {Schriftenreihe des VDSI}, publisher = {Schubert}, address = {Leipzig}, isbn = {3-929526-63-8}, pages = {88 S.}, year = {2001}, language = {de} } @misc{BoekerHermanussenScheffler2021, author = {Boeker, Sonja and Hermanussen, Michael and Scheffler, Christiane}, title = {Westernization of self-perception in modern affluent Indonesian school children}, series = {Human Biology and Public Health}, volume = {2021}, journal = {Human Biology and Public Health}, number = {1}, editor = {Scheffler, Christiane and Koziel, Slawomir and Hermanussen, Michael and Bogin, Barry}, publisher = {Universit{\"a}tsverlag Potsdam}, address = {Potsdam}, issn = {2748-9957}, doi = {10.52905/hbph.v1.4}, pages = {1 -- 13}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Background Subjective Social Status is used as an important predictor for psychological and physiological findings, most commonly measured with the MacArthur Scale (Ladder Test). Previous studies have shown that this test fits better in Western cultures. The idea of a social ladder itself and ranking oneself "higher" or "lower" is a concept that accords to the Western thinking. Objectives We hypothesize that in a culture where only the elites have adapted to a Western lifestyle, the test results reflect a higher level of accuracy for this stratum. We also expect that self-perception differs per sex. Sample and Methods We implemented the Ladder Test in a study of Indonesian schoolchildren aged between 5 and 13 years (boys N = 369, girls N= 364) from non-private and private schools in Kupang in 2020. Results Our analysis showed that the Ladder Test results were according to the Western expectations only for the private school, as the Ladder Scores significantly decreased with age (LM: p = 0.04). The Ladder Test results are best explained by "Education Father" for the non-private school pupils (p = 0.01) and all boys (p = 0.04), by "School Grades" for the private school cohort (p = 0.06) and by "Household Score" for girls (p =0.09). Conclusion This finding indicates that the concept of ranking oneself "high" or "low" on a social ladder is strongly implicated with Western ideas. A ladder implies social movement by "climbing" up or down. According to that, reflection of self-perception is influenced by culture.}, language = {en} } @article{BoekerHermanussenScheffler2022, author = {Boeker, Sonja and Hermanussen, Michael and Scheffler, Christiane}, title = {Dental age is an independent marker of biological age}, series = {Human biology and public health}, volume = {2021}, journal = {Human biology and public health}, number = {3, Summer School Supplement}, publisher = {Universit{\"a}tsverlag Potsdam}, address = {Potsdam}, issn = {2748-9957}, doi = {10.52905/hbph2021.3.24}, pages = {9}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Background: Biological age markers are a crucial indicator whether children are decelerated in growth tempo. Skeletal maturation is the standard measure. Yet, it relies on exposing children to x-radiation. Dental eruption is a potential, but highly debated, radiation free alternative.  Objectives: We assess the interrelationship between dental eruption and other maturational markers. We hypothesize that dental age correlates with body height and skeletal age. We further evaluate how the three different variables behave in cohorts from differing social backgrounds. Sample and Method: Dental, skeletal and height data from the 1970s to 1990s from Guatemalan boys were converted into standard deviation scores, using external references for each measurement. The boys, aged between 7 and 12, derived from different social backgrounds (middle SES (N = 6529), low-middle SES (N = 736), low SES Ladino (N = 3653) and low SES Maya (N = 4587). Results: Dental age shows only a weak correlation with skeletal age (0.18) and height (0.2). The distinction between cohorts differs according to each of the three measurements. All cohorts differ significantly in height. In skeletal maturation, the middle SES cohort is significantly advanced compared to all other cohorts. The periodically malnourished cohorts of low SES Mayas and Ladinos are significantly delayed in dental maturation compared to the well-nourished low-middle and middle class Ladino children. Conclusion: Dental development is an independent system, that is regulated by different mechanisms than skeletal development and growth. Tooth eruption is sensitive to nutritional status, whereas skeletal age is more sensitive to socioeconomic background.}, language = {en} } @article{BoginHermanussenScheffler2018, author = {Bogin, Barry and Hermanussen, Michael and Scheffler, Christiane}, title = {As tall as my peers}, series = {Journal of biological and clinical anthropology}, volume = {74}, journal = {Journal of biological and clinical anthropology}, number = {5}, publisher = {Schweizerbart}, address = {Stuttgart}, issn = {0003-5548}, doi = {10.1127/anthranz/2018/0828}, pages = {365 -- 376}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Background: We define migrants as people who move from their place of birth to a new place of residence. Migration usually is directed by "Push-Pull" factors, for example to escape from poor living conditions or to find more prosperous socio-economic conditions. Migrant children tend to assimilate quickly, and soon perceive themselves as peers within their new social networks. Differences exist between growth of first generation and second generation migrants. Methods: We review body heights and height distributions of historic and modern migrant populations to test two hypotheses: 1) that migrant and adopted children coming from lower social status localities to higher status localities adjust their height growth toward the mean of the dominant recipient social network, and 2) social dominant colonial and military migrants display growth that significantly surpasses the median height of both the conquered population and the population of origin. Our analytical framework also considered social networks. Recent publications indicate that spatial connectedness (community effects) and social competitiveness can affect human growth. Results: Migrant children and adolescents of lower social status rapidly adjust in height towards average height of their hosts, but tend to mature earlier, and are prone to overweight. The mean height of colonial/military migrants does surpass that of the conquered and origin population. Conclusion: Observations on human social networks, non-human animal strategic growth adjustments, and competitive growth processes strengthen the concept of social connectedness being involved in the regulation of human migrant growth.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{BoginHermanussenScheffler2021, author = {Bogin, Barry and Hermanussen, Michael and Scheffler, Christiane}, title = {Fear, violence, inequality and stunting in Guatemala}, series = {American journal of human biology : the official journal of the Human Biology Association}, volume = {33}, booktitle = {American journal of human biology : the official journal of the Human Biology Association}, publisher = {Wiley Interscience}, address = {New York, NY [u.a.]}, issn = {1520-6300}, doi = {10.1002/ajhb.23593}, pages = {1}, year = {2021}, language = {en} } @article{BoginHermanussenScheffler2022, author = {Bogin, Barry and Hermanussen, Michael and Scheffler, Christiane}, title = {Bergmann's rule is a "just-so" story of human body size}, series = {Journal of physiological anthropology}, volume = {41}, journal = {Journal of physiological anthropology}, number = {1}, publisher = {BMC}, address = {London}, issn = {1880-6805}, doi = {10.1186/s40101-022-00287-z}, pages = {13}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Carl Bergmann was an astute naturalist and physiologist. His ideas about animal size and shape were important advances in the pre-Darwinian nineteenth century. Bergmann's rule claims that that in cold climates, large body mass increases the ratio of volume-to-surface area and provides for maximum metabolic heat retention in mammals and birds. Conversely, in warmer temperatures, smaller body mass increases surface area relative to volume and allows for greater heat loss. For humans, we now know that body size and shape are regulated more by social-economic-political-emotional (SEPE) factors as well as nutrition-infection interactions. Temperature has virtually no effect. Bergmann's rule is a "just-so" story and should be relegated to teaching and scholarship about the history of science. That "rule" is no longer acceptable science and has nothing to tell us about physiological anthropology.}, language = {en} } @article{BoginSchefflerHermanussen2017, author = {Bogin, Barry and Scheffler, Christiane and Hermanussen, Michael}, title = {Global effects of income and income inequality on adult height and sexual dimorphism in height}, series = {American journal of human biology : the official journal of the Human Biology Council}, volume = {29}, journal = {American journal of human biology : the official journal of the Human Biology Council}, number = {2}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {1042-0533}, doi = {10.1002/ajhb.22980}, pages = {11}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Objectives: Average adult height of a population is considered a biomarker of the quality of the health environment and economic conditions. The causal relationships between height and income inequality are not well understood. We analyze data from 169 countries for national average heights of men and women and national-level economic factors to test two hypotheses: (1) income inequality has a greater association with average adult height than does absolute income; and (2) neither income nor income inequality has an effect on sexual dimorphism in height. Methods: Average height data come from the NCD-RisC health risk factor collaboration. Economic indicators are derived from the World Bank data archive and include gross domestic product (GDP), Gross National Income per capita adjusted for personal purchasing power (GNI_ PPP), and income equality assessed by the Gini coefficient calculated by the Wagstaff method. Results: Hypothesis 1 is supported. Greater income equality is most predictive of average height for both sexes. GNI_ PPP explains a significant, but smaller, amount of the variation. National GDP has no association with height. Hypothesis 2 is rejected. With greater average adult height there is greater sexual dimorphism. Conclusions: Findings support a growing literature on the pernicious effects of inequality on growth in height and, by extension, on health. Gradients in height reflect gradients in social disadvantage. Inequality should be considered a pollutant that disempowers people from the resources needed for their own healthy growth and development and for the health and good growth of their children.}, language = {en} } @article{BoginVareaHermanussenetal.2018, author = {Bogin, Barry and Varea, Carlos and Hermanussen, Michael and Scheffler, Christiane}, title = {Human life course biology}, series = {American journal of physical anthropology}, volume = {165}, journal = {American journal of physical anthropology}, number = {4}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0002-9483}, doi = {10.1002/ajpa.23357}, pages = {834 -- 854}, year = {2018}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{BrinkmannScheffler2011, author = {Brinkmann, Stefanie and Scheffler, Christiane}, title = {The relation between anthropometric measures of the body and back pain of nurses under work-related physical stress}, series = {Journal of biological and clinical anthropology : Anthropologischer Anzeiger ; Mitteilungsorgan der Gesellschaft f{\"u}r Anthropologie}, volume = {68}, booktitle = {Journal of biological and clinical anthropology : Anthropologischer Anzeiger ; Mitteilungsorgan der Gesellschaft f{\"u}r Anthropologie}, number = {4}, publisher = {Schweizerbart}, address = {Stuttgart}, issn = {0003-5548}, pages = {490 -- 491}, year = {2011}, language = {en} }