Season of birth
Encyclopedia
The time of a year in which a person is born has been linked to physiological and psychological changes to humans. Unlike Astrology
, the scientific researches
on the seasonality of births are usually trying to establish causal relationships (correlation ratios) with physical and mental health
. Hippocrates
recognized the importance of season of birth in 460 BC.
and epidemiology
. Despite the large number of works realized by research teams and individual researchers of different fields of physiology and medicine all this works trying to explain the reasons for discovered ratios of any hypothesis. It is the main cause of the impossibility of association results in a unified system of knowledge. Probably there is point to consider the results of such researches only how statistically accurate information while there is no consensus.
, bipolar depression, schizophrenia
and type I diabetes
. Research has shown that the season a baby is born in can have a major effect on whether or not you will become a heavy smoker or not. This even varies between men to women.
Research works in Sweden show that those who preferred hanging rather than poisoning or petrol gases were significantly more likely to be born during February–April. Maximum of the month-of-birth curve for preferring hanging was for March–April and the minimum was for September–October.
Astrology
Astrology consists of a number of belief systems which hold that there is a relationship between astronomical phenomena and events in the human world...
, the scientific researches
Scientific method
Scientific method refers to a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry must be based on gathering empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of...
on the seasonality of births are usually trying to establish causal relationships (correlation ratios) with physical and mental health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
. Hippocrates
Hippocrates
Hippocrates of Cos or Hippokrates of Kos was an ancient Greek physician of the Age of Pericles , and is considered one of the most outstanding figures in the history of medicine...
recognized the importance of season of birth in 460 BC.
Description
Scientific researches in the field of seasonality of birth are one of the important and perspective concept in statistical human physiologyHuman physiology
Human physiology is the science of the mechanical, physical, bioelectrical, and biochemical functions of humans in good health, their organs, and the cells of which they are composed. Physiology focuses principally at the level of organs and systems...
and epidemiology
Epidemiology
Epidemiology is the study of health-event, health-characteristic, or health-determinant patterns in a population. It is the cornerstone method of public health research, and helps inform policy decisions and evidence-based medicine by identifying risk factors for disease and targets for preventive...
. Despite the large number of works realized by research teams and individual researchers of different fields of physiology and medicine all this works trying to explain the reasons for discovered ratios of any hypothesis. It is the main cause of the impossibility of association results in a unified system of knowledge. Probably there is point to consider the results of such researches only how statistically accurate information while there is no consensus.
Influence on medical conditions
The season in which babies are born can have a dramatic effect on their future risk relating to the development of conditions such as neurological disorders, including seasonal affective disorderSeasonal affective disorder
Seasonal affective disorder , also known as winter depression, winter blues, summer depression, summer blues, or seasonal depression, is a mood disorder in which people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year experience depressive symptoms in the winter or summer, spring or autumn...
, bipolar depression, schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
and type I diabetes
Diabetes mellitus type 1
Diabetes mellitus type 1 is a form of diabetes mellitus that results from autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. The subsequent lack of insulin leads to increased blood and urine glucose...
. Research has shown that the season a baby is born in can have a major effect on whether or not you will become a heavy smoker or not. This even varies between men to women.
As a factor in infant grown
The season during which a birth takes place has been linked to the weight development of the infant as well as initial weight.As a factor in academic development
There is evidence that suggests that children who are born earlier while they attend the same academic year with others, gain an advantage:- "In Britain the academic year begins in September, and there may be almost a year's chronological age difference between the eldest (September birthday) and youngest (August birthday) children in the same class. There is evidence that, in this context, children born in the autumn term (September to December birthdays) perform better academically, relative to their class peers, than those born in the spring term (January to April birthdays), who in turn outperform those born in the summer term (May to August birthdays)."
As a suicide risk factor
Birth rates of people who later kill themselves show disproportionate excess for April, May and June compared with the other months. Overall, the risk of suicide is increase of 17% for people born in the spring–early summer compared with those born in the autumn–early winter; this risk increase was larger for women (29.6%) than for men (13.7%).Research works in Sweden show that those who preferred hanging rather than poisoning or petrol gases were significantly more likely to be born during February–April. Maximum of the month-of-birth curve for preferring hanging was for March–April and the minimum was for September–October.
Further reading
- Gavrilov LA, Gavrilova NS. Early-Life Exposure, Season of Birth and Gender Differences in Human Life Span. Science, 2004, 305(5691): 1739 (letter published in Science online).
- Gavrilov, L.A., Gavrilova, N.S. Season of birth and human longevity. Journal of Anti-Aging Medicine, 1999, 2(4): 365-366.
- Gavrilov LA, Gavrilova NS. Early-Life Programming of Aging and Longevity: The Idea of High Initial Damage Load (the HIDL Hypothesis). Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2004, 1019: 496-501.
- Gavrilova N.S., Gavrilov L.A., Evdokushkina, G.N., Semyonova, V.G. Early-life predictors of human longevity: Analysis of the 19th Century birth cohorts. Annales de Demographie Historique, 2003, 2: 177-198.
- Gavrilov, L.A., Gavrilova, N.S. Early-life factors modulating lifespan. In: Rattan, S.I.S. (Ed.). Modulating Aging and Longevity. 2003. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 2003, 27-50.