Does Urban Poverty Increase Body Fluctuating Asymmetry?


Ozener B.

COLLEGIUM ANTROPOLOGICUM, cilt.35, sa.4, ss.1001-1005, 2011 (SSCI) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 35 Sayı: 4
  • Basım Tarihi: 2011
  • Dergi Adı: COLLEGIUM ANTROPOLOGICUM
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1001-1005
  • Sivas Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Perturbations during development leave enduring signs on the adult body. Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) is c good bio-indicator of stress during ontogeny. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of urban poverty on the fluctuating asymmetry of young Turkish males. Young males from a lower socioeconomic group (N=140, Mean age=18.17 +/- 0.61) were selected from slum areas of Ankara, the capital of Turkey, where urban poverty is intense. An upper socioeconomic group, on the other hand, consisted of students from two private colleges and included children from some of the richest families in Turkey (N=120, Mean age=18.08 +/- 0.54). Eight anthropometric traits of all subjects were measured. Considering the seven measurements demonstrate ideal FA, the individuals living in poor areas of the city displayed higher FA. The discrepancy between the two groups was even greater for a measure of composite FA. In conclusion, poor living conditions in Ankara, where urban poverty is intense, adversely impact the developmental stability of young Turkish males.