Life History Approach Research Articles

Variation in local career trajectories of young people sharing a similar low socio-economic background in one geographic community

This paper uses a life history approach to examine the decision making of six young people around what to do when leaving compulsory education. They all share similar social backgrounds and are located in one geographic place – a deprived, working class, urban area in the English midlands – but the six individuals have opted to follow three different post-16 pathways, even though they all achieved GCSE qualifications that would have enabled them to enter further education, and therefore potentially higher education. These different post-16 routes include employment without formal training (the workers), employment with formal training (the apprentices) and studying in higher education (the students). All the participants (and their families) are historically ‘rooted’ in the local area and this paper explores the influence of the social learning that takes place within local communities of practice – in the form of friendship groups, families and school communities – on the young people’s different, yet all resolutely local, early career trajectories.

Gender identities and career aspirations of middle leaders

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine gender identities of Chinese male and female middle leaders in secondary schools and how gender dynamics play in the leadership process and impact on career aspirations and career development.Design/methodology/approachThis paper draws on the data of a larger qualitative study conducted using the life history approach. Cases of four male and female middle leaders, which are able to demonstrate the “efficacy” of life stories to enhancing our appreciation of the process of gender negotiation and the impact of gender dynamics on leadership behaviour, are reported.FindingsEvidence suggests that traditional Chinese gender identities played out in the leader‐follower relationships although signs of hybrid gender identities were also evident in some cases. Gender identities and the family role perception of the middle leaders have impact on their career aspirations and development.Research limitations/implicationsFindings yield implications for the professional development needs of Chinese middle leaders not only regarding their professional role but also their personal understanding of how gender identities and family role perception impact on their career development. Further study with overlapping and complementary methods to a larger sample could be more illuminating to this complex and multifaceted issue.Originality valueIn the context of global concerns about the shortage of leader talent, the present study illuminates gender identities and the dynamics of the interactions between Chinese superiors and subordinates of different sexes and adds perspective to the leadership development literature.

A career journey: an auto‐ethnographic insight

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how the use of an auto‐ethnographic life history can provide rich, original data to critically analyse the interplay between the socially constructed self, a career journey over time and societal change.Design/methodology/approach – A reflexive auto‐ethnography is used as a conduit to explore a career journey. The author draws on the fluidity of ageing to make visible gendered organizational processes. The setting is New Zealand.Findings – To understand the interplay of a career journey through a life history approach and intersectional analysis reinforces the life‐long significance of gender with ageing.Originality/value – The author suggests that by reflecting on the complex interplay of one's own life through an intersectional approach can add a further dimension to scholarly thinking on the “doing” of intersectionality when considering the career journey of others.

Motherhood, and its “lack:” Personal loss, and political community among Shiv Sena women in Mumbai

Synopsis Religious-nationalist parties in contemporary India actively mobilize women in their political projects. Party leaders utilize a variety of motherhood tropes in their mobilization of women for nationalist ends. The assumption is that such politics is appealing to women because it reinforces a maternal valor at the same time that it upholds the patriarchal status quo within the party. This paper complicates the relationships between motherhood and political community. Through ethnographic research with women of the political party Shiv Sena (Shivaji's Army) it argues that motherhood and politics are interlinked in ways that are at odds with dominant party rhetoric. It finds that for working-class women who live on the urban margins of the city of Mumbai, and who are marginalized from the centers of politics, grief over loss of a child mobilizes women to seek particular kinds of political community. Therefore, it is the “lack” of motherhood that becomes the source of affirmation and political action. It uses the life-history and narrative approach to analyze the ways in which the “lack” of motherhood gets constructed, narrated and experienced. It explores ways in which political parties that promise cultural community become sites through which this “lack” of motherhood gets negotiated. Finally, it urges feminist scholarship on gender and politics to take intimate emotions seriously in an analysis of political agency and political community.

The development and recovery of social capital through community-based adult learning

This paper explores the connection between participation in community-based adult learning (CBAL) and the development of social capital. It is based on a life-history study of participation in community-based adult learning opportunities undertaken in two local authority areas in Scotland. A life-history approach was chosen in order to ensure that the learners' perspectives were at the heart of the research while taking account of the context in which learning took place. Two semi-structured life history interviews were carried out with each of 10 learners and data were analysed in three stages, which led to the identification of cross-cutting themes. The paper explores the learners' experiences of participating in CBAL as described by them. It confirms for CBAL what has been established previously for other types of adult learning, namely that participation can support the development of social capital for some learners. Furthermore, it is argued that other learners were able to recover decreased or lost social capital through their participation. The paper contributes to an understanding of community-based adult learning as part of the continuum of lifelong learning opportunities, as it illustrates the potential of CBAL not only to support the development of social capital, but also to help learners recover capital that might have decreased through their life circumstances.

Age-Stage, Two-Sex Life Table ofBrontispa longissima(Gestro) (Coleoptera: Hispidae) Feeding on Four Palm Plant Varieties

The life history of Brontispa longissima (Gestro) (Coleoptera: Hispidae), reared under laboratory conditions on leaves of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), royal palm [Roystonea regia (Kunth) O.F.Cook], bottle palm [Hyophorbe lagenicaulis (L. Bailey) H.E.Moore], and fishtail palm (Caryota ochlandra Hance) was analyzed using age-stage, two-sex life table. Means and standard errors of population growth parameters were calculated using the jackknife method. Moreover, survival rate and fecundity data were applied to project the population for revealing the different stage structure. The mean intrinsic rates of population growth when reared on each respective leaf type were 0.032, 0.031, 0.019, and 0.044. Individuals reared on C. nucifera achieved the highest net reproduction rate at 114.5 offspring per female. The mean generation times of B. longissima ranged from 93.2 d (reared on C. ochlandrai) to 161.5 d (reared on H. lagenicaulis). Projections from survival rate and fecundity data indicated that B. longissima populations can row considerably faster on C. ochlandra than on the other three host plants. The results validate the two-stage life history approach taken, providing an essential tool for developing and testing future control strategies.

Perspectives on alcohol use in a Traveller community: an exploratory case study

PurposeTravellers are consistently found to have poorer health outcomes and health status than other minority ethnic groups. Very few studies have examined alcohol use among Travellers, but some indicate that their drinking patterns are changing. This study aims to explore alcohol use, health needs and health service access within an Irish Traveller population in England with a view to identifying themes for further study.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative exploratory pilot study was carried out using an oral life history approach. Ten individuals were interviewed along with two professionals working closely with the Traveller group.FindingsWhile improvements in general health and access to healthcare were widely reported, many Travellers were concerned about the effects of leaving behind their nomadic lifestyle to living more “settled” lives. This change was felt to bring young male Travellers, in particular, into contact with the risky drinking behaviours of non‐Travellers and away from the monitoring and informal controls traditionally accompanying their former nomadic lifestyle.Research limitations/implicationsThese findings may not generalise to other Traveller groups; they draw on a small sample of Travellers living in “settled” accommodation. The sample was limited to discussions with older Travellers and further research is needed among younger generations to explore how health related behaviours and alcohol use may be changing.Originality/valueThis study highlights potential pathways for young male Travellers to become “youth at risk” importantly through involvement in alcohol and drug use. It should be of value to health policy makers and health/support workers in contact with Traveller communities.

Teenage pregnancy in the United Kingdom: A behavioral ecological perspective.

In this paper we describe teenage pregnancy and motherhood in the United Kingdom. This has been regarded as a key social policy issue for some time and is the focus of policy intervention under the current administration. We argue that policy has been based on simple models of teenage pregnancy that have failed to take into account the complex biological nature of reproductive behavior. Our claim is that the U.K. government would be well advised to take a life-history approach to this issue, and we outline what this means and what is currently known as a consequence of research in this area, concluding with lessons that should be drawn by those working in policy.

Ethical aspects of undergoing a predictive genetic testing for Huntington's disease

The aim of this study was to describe the experiences of undergoing a presymptomatic genetic test for the hereditary and fatal Huntington's disease, using a case study approach. The study was based on 18 interviews with a young woman and her husband from the decision to undergo the test, to receiving the results and trying to adapt to them, which were analysed using a life history approach. The findings show that the process of undergoing a presymptomatic test involves several closely connected ethical and medical questions, such as the reason for the test, the consequences of the test results and how health-care services can be developed to support people in this situation.

Disability and development: the role of language and e‐learning

PurposeIn spite of extensive literature on disability studies, little has been done on disability and development, more so the role of language and learning technologies in all of this. The purpose of this paper therefore is to focus on the crucial role language plays in the inclusion or exclusion of people with disabilities in development and their inaccessibility to learning technologies in northern Ghana.Design/methodology/approachInterviews and life history approach in Dagbanli, the local language were used to find out how the use of language affects the participation of people with disabilities (PWDs) in the development of their communities. The use of the local language was to ensure that expressions used to talk about people with disabilities were captured.FindingsThe main findings of the study include stigmatization of people with disability, more so with females. It was also found that these discriminations were conveyed through daily language use, thus constantly reminding people with disabilities of their “class” thereby excluding them from decisions and activities of the development agenda. Education is key and the way out is e‐learning.Originality/valueThis paper provides insights of how Dagombas use language to exclude PWDs. No such study has been carried out in northern Ghana and more precisely among the Dagombas.

Life history approaches to access and retention of nontraditional students in higher education: A cross-European approach

Higher education participation has become an important focus for policy debate as well as for scholarly research. Partly this results from ongoing attempts to expand the higher education system in line with wider policies promoting a 'knowledge economy'; and partly it results from widespread policy concerns for equity and inclusion. In both cases, researchers and policymakers alike have tended to focus on access and entry to the system, with much less attention being paid to the distribution of outcomes from the system. This paper reports on a multi-country study that was aimed at critically understanding the experiences of non-traditional students in higher education, and in particular on the factors that helped promote retention. In doing so, the study straddles the sociology of social reproduction and the psychosociology of learner transformations.

Growth of the Kalahari Desert’s bushman - the Ju/’hoansi San

The Ju/'hoansi San (JHS) of the Kalahari Desert are the archetype of a hunter-gatherer society that practices natural fertility, living on a rich diet in a harsh environs. To explore the evolutionary adaptation of child growth under such conditions, the present study takes a life history approach and compares the growth data of 140 JHS females and 126 JHS males age 1-25 to those in 3rd percentile American and Swedish references. The data are based on observations of the JHS that were made in 1967-1969. During infancy, the JHS boys lose 1.5 SDS and girls - 0.3 SDS in terms of Swedish reference. The height SDS of the JHS did not change significantly during their childhood, but growth deceleration during the juvenile period (middle childhood) was substantially greater and longer, amounting to a loss of 1.6 SDS for both girls and boys. Adolescent spurt was substantially later and smaller than that of the short-statured Americans. The results suggest that the short stature of the JHS is mostly established during juvenility, in adaptation to their unique living conditions.

Premature Mortality in Scottish Injecting Drug Users: A Life-history Approach

In Scotland, deaths in drug users are known to be higher than in the rest of the UK and most of Europe. Reducing drug-related deaths is currently a national priority for the Scottish Government. This study aimed to present a description of the life histories of a group of injecting drug users who have recently died, with a view to highlighting areas for further research. The Edinburgh Addiction Cohort study recently carried out 432 follow-up interviews between the years 2005 and 2007. Thirty-three cases who completed this extensive interview detailing early life, education, employment, drug use, opiate substitution treatment, criminal history, mental health problems and overdose have subsequently died, leaving this source of rich information about their lives. The design of the interview used the life grid approach. Information was also compiled from full primary care records and General Register Office death certificates. Early life adversity was apparent for many cases, with a steady progression into early criminal behaviour and drug misuse. Poor adult life outcomes illustrated the lifelong damaging effects of drug injecting. Death occurred significantly earlier than in the general population or those living in deprived communities who did not use drugs. In conclusion, a clearer understanding of the life histories of problem drug users would be advantageous for health-care professionals and policy-makers. More qualitative research studies are needed to highlight areas which might require early intervention and also complement the existing secondary data studies.

Developmental Science and the Study of Successful Development

idea of successful development is used as the conceptual platform for a proposal that three basic principles of developmental science be expanded. Specifically, we propose that (a) developmental science needs to be reframed as a guide for what successful development is and how it is manifested at different times of the life course; (b) that the integrative emphasis of developmental science needs to emphasize the intersection of developmental domains as well as the integration of concepts from other disciplines; and (c) that careful distinctions need to be made between the life span approach (i.e., research focused on processes within one moment of the life course) and the life history approach (i.e., understanding stability and change across part of the life course). It is argued that the concept of successful development can be used to enrich developmental science.

Mental illness, supported education, employment and recovery: Ben's story

Supported education programs aim to facilitate the successful return to higher education for people living with mental illness who may have experienced educational interruptions due to their illness. This article shares the story of Ben who lives with mental illness and his experience of participating in an Australian supported education course. The two authors draw on a qualitative life history approach as they reflected on Ben's experiences of mental illness, educational disruption and returning to education and employment. The losses associated with educational disruption and the positive and empowering experience of becoming a student again are described as positively impacting recovery. Ben's story is shared in anticipation that other people living with mental illness, their family and carers, or workers supporting those people, may draw from his determination and success, in their own journeys of recovery.

A life history approach to understanding the Dark Triad

Researchers adopting an evolutionary perspective have conceptualized the Dark Triad as an exploitative interpersonal style reflective of a fast life history strategy. However, not all research has supported this claim. We posit that different elements of the constructs associated with the Dark Triad may reflect different life history strategies. Our results indicate that the measures of the Dark Triad and other indicators of life history strategies form two distinct factors: (1) a fast life strategy factor that includes the impulsive antisociality facet of psychopathy, the entitlement/exploitativeness facet of narcissism, Machiavellianism, unrestricted sociosexuality, and aggression, and (2) a slow life strategy factor that includes the fearless dominance facet of psychopathy and both the leadership/authority and grandiose exhibitionism facets of narcissism. These factors differentially correlate with established measures of life history strategy. These findings add to the literature by clarifying how the Dark Triad fits into a life history framework.

Cow milk consumption, insulin‐like growth factor‐I, and human biology: A life history approach

To assess the life history consequences of cow milk consumption at different stages in early life (prenatal to adolescence), especially with regard to linear growth and age at menarche and the role of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in mediating a relationship among milk, growth and development, and long-term biological outcomes. United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 1999 to 2004 and review of existing literature. The literature tends to support milk's role in enhancing growth early in life (prior to age 5 years), but there is less support for this relationship during middle childhood. Milk has been associated with early menarche and with acceleration of linear growth in adolescence. NHANES data show a positive relationship between milk intake and linear growth in early childhood and adolescence, but not middle childhood, a period of relatively slow growth. IGF-I is a candidate bioactive molecule linking milk consumption to more rapid growth and development, although the mechanism by which it may exert such effects is unknown. Routine milk consumption is an evolutionarily novel dietary behavior that has the potential to alter human life history parameters, especially vis-à-vis linear growth, which in turn may have negative long-term biological consequences.

The Effect of Individual Differences and Manipulated Life Expectancies on the Willingness to Engage in Sexual Coercion

The role of the individual difference variables of mate value, short-term and long-term mating preferences, and life history strategy along with the manipulated variable of life expectancy were used to predict differences in the willingness to engage in sexually coercive behaviors. Short-term preferences and long-term preferences were correlated with the willingness to engage in sexual coercion at all life expectancies. Life history strategy was correlated with the willingness to engage in sexual coercion at only the shortest and longest life expectancies. Most importantly short-term and long-term mating preferences interacted with life expectancy to predict the willingness to engage in sexually coercive behaviors. Short life expectancies increased willingness in individuals with high short-term and low long-term preferences. The results are discussed in terms of the varying theories of sexual coercion with emphasis put on a life history approach.

Early life environment, life history and risk of endometrial cancer

Endometrial cancer risk is influenced by reproductive behaviours, including parity and breastfeeding, and timing of life history events such as age at menarche and menopause. One potential mechanism by which altered reproductive strategies may influence endometrial cancer risk is through exposure to reproductive hormones. Current theory suggests that high lifetime exposure to oestrogen, unopposed by progesterone, increases endometrial cancer risk; here we suggest that progesterone deficiency itself may also play a significant role. Additionally, given that reproductive profile variables are themselves influenced by early childhood conditions, we hypothesise that endometrial cancer risk may be influenced by the childhood psychosocial environment as mediated through changes to adolescent and adult reproductive behaviours and hormone exposures. Investigating reproductive cancers, including endometrial cancer, using a life history approach may help to increase understanding of why these cancers occur and potentially help implementation of early detection and screening processes in the future.

Personal stories: how students’ social and cultural life histories interact with the field of higher education

Learners’ biographies affect their engagement with knowledge and shape how their learning is understood. This article uses an educational life history approach to investigate how students’ social and cultural educational experiences affect their engagement with their university. Qualitative evidence is presented from interviews with students with different life experiences, which explored issues of belonging and identity in the context of lifelong learning. While there is some evidence that students from some minority ethnic backgrounds do less well at university than would be expected, there is little research that looks at the reasons behind this discrepancy. The research suggests that ethnicity does interact with other variables such as socio-economic status, age and gender to affect student outcomes. However, what is significant from these life stories is that even middle-class minority ethnic students have a different engagement with their universities to their White British peers.