Working Paper: NBER ID: w18002
Authors: Gabriella Conti; Christopher Hansman; James J. Heckman; Matthew F. X. Novak; Angela Ruggiero; Stephen J. Suomi
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 which 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 which are not compensated by a normal social environment later in life.
Keywords: early life adversity; health effects; rhesus monkeys; secure attachment; randomized controlled trial
JEL Codes: I12; J13
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Surrogate peer rearing (C92) | Higher probability of developing illnesses (I12) |
| Mother rearing (J12) | Lower probability of developing illnesses (I12) |
| Nursery rearing (PR and SPR) (Q26) | Higher incidence of stereotypies (C92) |
| Early adversity (I32) | Behavioral health issues (stereotypies) (I12) |
| Peer rearing (female) (C92) | Higher rates of alopecia (I12) |
| Peer rearing (female) (C92) | Higher rates of wounds (I12) |
| Early adversity (I32) | Higher cortisol levels (in SPR males) (I12) |
| Higher cortisol levels (I12) | Negative health outcomes (I12) |