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5. Somatic differences of children in connection with the complex of factors of family environment in the megalopolis of the beginning of third millennium

Somatic differences of children in connection with the complex of factors of family environment in the megalopolis of the beginning of third millennium

Fedotova T.K., Gorbacheva A.K.

Lomonosov Moscow State University, Anuchin Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology, Mokhovaya st., 11, Moscow, 125009, Russia

Fedotova Tatiana K, PhD., DSci; ORCID ID: 0000-0001-7750-7924; tatiana.fedotova@mail.ru; Gorbacheva Anna K., PhD.; ORCID ID: 0000-0001-5201-7128; angoria@yandex.ru.

Abstract

Introduction. Quantitative contribution of a vast complex of factors of family environment to somatic variability of children of Moscow megalopolis aged 3-7 years is under discussion. Material and methods. Data collected on base of Moscow kinder-gardens in 2005-2006. Total number of the sample is 419 boys and 404 girls. Separate age groups are consolidated in a single pool after the procedure of standardization of the dimensions. Somatic status was fixed according to classic anthropometry after Bunak, 1941. To get the exhaustive idea of the family environment, parents were suggested to fill a questionnaire, including age, education and professional status of parents; number of children in the family; living conditions; character of leisure time of a child out of kinder-garden, some medical parameters. The statistical analysis included factor and correlation analysis, analysis of variance, multiple regression, Scheffe-test. Results. Factor analysis of parameters of family environment revealed 3 complexes of combined factors: 1) living conditions, connected with education of parents; 2) combination of age of parents and number of children in the family; 3) education of parents and peculiarities of life-style of a child. Somatic acceleration of children of high educated parents is manifested in longitudinal skeletal dimensions, less in skinfolds and girths. Differences between social groups manifest in less values of longitudinal dimensions of children of workers compared to the children of white-collars, and some increase of transversal development of boys of mothers-workers. As to the preschool girls, the more children are in the family, the less are their skeletal dimensions (height, leg length, pelvic diameter). Such peculiarities of life-style as passive smoking, exploitation of computer vs outdoor play, being derivatives of parent’s educational level, increase somatic differences of children according to the vector of parent’s education. Conclusion. Increase of professional and educational level of parents is connected with some somatic enlarge of the descendants. This effect is the consequence not only of financial advantages of higher social status of parents, but much more the consequence of organization of rational and healthy life-style in the family — nutrition structure, day routine, sport routine — and creating by high educated parents the favorable conditions for adaptation to stresses of modern urbanized environment.

Keywords

anthropometry; children aged 3-7 years; Moscow megalopolis; age, education and professional status of parents; number of children in the family; living conditions; peculiarities of child leisure-time

DOI: 10.32521/2074-8132.2022.4.032-042

Цит.: Fedotova T.K., Gorbacheva A.K. Somatic differences of children in connection with the complex of factors of family environment in the megalopolis of the beginning of third millennium // Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia), 2022; 4/2022; с. 32-42 (Published: November 21, 2022)