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Great apes may have 'mid-life crisis', a study suggests | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
By Jeremy Coles Reporter, BBC Nature | By Jeremy Coles Reporter, BBC Nature |
Chimpanzees and orangutans may experience a "mid-life crisis" like humans, a study suggests. | |
An international team of researchers assessed the well-being and happiness of the great apes. | An international team of researchers assessed the well-being and happiness of the great apes. |
They found well-being was high in youth, fell to a low in midlife and rose again in old age, similar to the "U-shape curve" of happiness in humans. | They found well-being was high in youth, fell to a low in midlife and rose again in old age, similar to the "U-shape curve" of happiness in humans. |
The study brought together experts such as psychologists, primatologists and economists. | The study brought together experts such as psychologists, primatologists and economists. |
Results are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. | Results are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. |
"What we are testing is whether the U-shaped curve can describe the association between age and well-being in non-human primates as it does in humans," psychologist and lead author Dr Alexander Weiss of the University of Edinburgh told BBC Nature. | "What we are testing is whether the U-shaped curve can describe the association between age and well-being in non-human primates as it does in humans," psychologist and lead author Dr Alexander Weiss of the University of Edinburgh told BBC Nature. |
Dr Weiss hoped the results would show a similar curve because of the close relationship between humans, chimpanzees and orangutans. | Dr Weiss hoped the results would show a similar curve because of the close relationship between humans, chimpanzees and orangutans. |
The study showed that male and female humans, chimpanzees and orangutans have the same U-shaped curve despite differences in social roles, and the phenomenon is therefore not uniquely human. | The study showed that male and female humans, chimpanzees and orangutans have the same U-shaped curve despite differences in social roles, and the phenomenon is therefore not uniquely human. |
Testing times | Testing times |
The sample subjects included 508 chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and orangutans (Pongo sp.) of varying ages, from zoos, sanctuaries and research centres. | The sample subjects included 508 chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and orangutans (Pongo sp.) of varying ages, from zoos, sanctuaries and research centres. |
They were assessed by zoo keepers, volunteers, researchers and caretakers who had worked with the primate subject for at least two years and knew its behaviour. | They were assessed by zoo keepers, volunteers, researchers and caretakers who had worked with the primate subject for at least two years and knew its behaviour. |
The animals were numerically scored for well-being and happiness on a short questionnaire, which was based on a human well-being model but modified for use in non-human primates. | The animals were numerically scored for well-being and happiness on a short questionnaire, which was based on a human well-being model but modified for use in non-human primates. |
Dr Weiss said that the similarities between humans, chimps and orangutans go beyond genetics and physiology. | Dr Weiss said that the similarities between humans, chimps and orangutans go beyond genetics and physiology. |
For example, they face similar social pressures and stress factors to humans. | For example, they face similar social pressures and stress factors to humans. |
"You don't have the chimpanzee hitting mid-life and suddenly they want a bright red sports car," explained Dr Weiss. | |
"But there may be other things that they want like mating with more females or gaining access to more resources." | "But there may be other things that they want like mating with more females or gaining access to more resources." |
Co-author Andrew Oswald, professor of economics at the University of Warwick, has researched human happiness for 20 years. | Co-author Andrew Oswald, professor of economics at the University of Warwick, has researched human happiness for 20 years. |
"One of the reasons we decided to look at ape data was that when you study humans, that U-shape is exactly the same when you adjust statistically for things like education, income and marriage. | "One of the reasons we decided to look at ape data was that when you study humans, that U-shape is exactly the same when you adjust statistically for things like education, income and marriage. |
For Prof Oswald it was "quite mind-blowing... to find it in apes". | For Prof Oswald it was "quite mind-blowing... to find it in apes". |
He concluded that "the mid-life crisis is real and it exists in... our closest biological relatives, suggesting that it is probably explained by biology and physiology". | |
The bigger picture | The bigger picture |
Psychologist Dr Weiss said that this research opens a lot of doors. | Psychologist Dr Weiss said that this research opens a lot of doors. |
He explained that for a long time this kind of mid-life crisis was considered something specific to human society and human lives. | |
"And what [this study] says is that it may be a part of the picture, but it's clearly not all of the picture. | "And what [this study] says is that it may be a part of the picture, but it's clearly not all of the picture. |
"We have to look deeper into our evolutionary past and that of the common ancestors that we share with chimpanzees, orangutans and other apes." | "We have to look deeper into our evolutionary past and that of the common ancestors that we share with chimpanzees, orangutans and other apes." |
Join BBC Nature on Facebook and Twitter @BBCNature. | Join BBC Nature on Facebook and Twitter @BBCNature. |