Sibship Size, Height and Cohort Selection: A Methodological Approach.

Ramon Ramon-Muñoz,Josep-Maria Ramon-Muñoz,Begoña Candela-Martínez

doi:10.3390/ijerph182413369

Ramon Ramon-Muñoz, Josep-Maria Ramon-Muñoz + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413369

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Abstract

This article deals with the historical relationship between the number of siblings in a family or household and height, a proxy for biological living standards. Ideally, this relationship is better assessed when we have evidence on the exact number of siblings in a family from its constitution onwards. However, this generally requires applying family reconstitution techniques, which, unfortunately, is not always possible. In this latter case, scholars must generally settle for considering only particular benchmark years using population censuses, from which family and household structures are derived. These data are then linked to the height data for the young males of the family or household. Height data are generally obtained from military records. In this matching process, several decisions have to be taken, which, in turn, are determined by source availability and the number of available observations. Using data from late 19th-century Catalonia, we explore whether the methodology used in matching population censuses and military records as described above might affect the relationship between sibship size and biological living standards and, if so, to what extent. We conclude that, while contextual factors cannot be neglected, the methodological decisions made in the initial steps of research also play a role in assessing this relationship.

Highlights

The impact of sibship size on children and young people’s nutrition and health status is not a minor topic
The resource dilution hypothesis (RDH), which predicts a negative relationship between the number of sons and daughters in a family and child outcomes, assumes finite parental resources that tend to dilute as the number of children increases [2,3]
This paper analyzes the relationship between sibship size and biological living standards, mainly focusing on methodological issues

Summary

Introduction

The impact of sibship size on children and young people’s nutrition and health status is not a minor topic. A burgeoning historical literature has recently discussed such a relationship within the framework of the resource dilution hypothesis, using height as a proxy for physical welfare [1]. The resource dilution hypothesis (RDH), which predicts a negative relationship between the number of sons and daughters in a family and child outcomes, assumes finite parental resources that tend to dilute as the number of children increases [2,3]. It assumes that no resources come from outside the parents while resources remain relatively constant. It considers that siblings compete for the available resources and that the youngest and later-born children in a family face more intense competition since resources tend to dilute as the number of sisters and brothers increases. It might be hypothesized that greater competition between siblings for family resources can lead to food deprivation and, to shorter heights

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