Full Citation

Title: Birth month and adult lifespan: A within-family, cohort, and spatial examination using FamiLinx data in the United States (1700-1899)

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2023

ISBN:

ISSN:

DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2023.49.9

NSFID:

PMCID:

PMID:

Abstract: BACKGROUND Research has shown that the circumstances surrounding birth may influence the timing of death. In the northern hemisphere, children born in spring and summer have a shorter lifespan than those born in fall and winter. OBJECTIVE We describe the effect of month of birth on adult lifespan (50+) in the United States in three ways. First, we estimate it between and within groups of siblings, accounting for unobserved factors at the family level. Second, we estimate the effect of birth month across a period of about 200 years (1700‒1899). Third, we examine geographical variation in the effect of birth month across US census areas. METHODS We estimate descriptive statistics and OLS regression models between and within siblinggroups. RESULTS We find an effect of birth month on lifespan. Individuals born in spring and summer have on average a shorter lifespan than those born in fall and winter. The effect is relatively consistent across cohorts, geographical census areas, and between and within families.We test different possible explanations for this result and find residual evidence that in utero debilitation may account for this result.

Url: https://www.demographic-research.org/Volumes/Vol49/9/

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Cozzani, Marco; Minardi, Saverio; Corti, Giulia; Barban, Nicola

Periodical (Full): Demographic Research

Issue:

Volume: 49

Pages: 201-218

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Fertility and Mortality

Countries: