New research suggests that men from polygamous cultures may hold the secret to a longer life, outlasting their monogamous counterparts by a significant margin.
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Sheffield has revealed that men aged over 60 who practice polygamy across 140 countries live, on average, 12 per cent longer than those in 49 monogamous nations.
The findings, originally reported via Fox News, were presented at the International Society for Behavioral Ecology’s annual meeting in Ithaca, New York.
The ‘Father Effect’
The research team sought to understand the biological and social drivers behind this longevity by looking at existing data on women, specifically the “grandmother effect.” Scientists have long believed that women live considerably longer post-menopause than other mammals because the extended lifespan allows them to “dote on” and care for more grandchildren. This sense of purpose and familial contribution is thought to provide a biological “reason” to survive well past reproductive age.
However, the study found that doting on grandchildren does not offer the same life-lengthening benefits for men. Instead, the benefit for males appears to be linked to their own continued fertility.
Why Polygamy Adds Years
The researchers concluded that polygamous men experience what they term a “father effect.” Unlike many monogamous men who may stop fathering children at a relatively early age, men in polygamous societies often continue to reproduce into their 60s, 70s, and 80s.
The more wives they have, the more children they tend to care for,” the researchers noted.
According to the study, the act of nurturing a larger number of children provides these men with a driven purpose to remain healthy and active. This social and biological requirement to provide for a growing family essentially gives them a “reason to continue living” far beyond the average life expectancy seen in monogamous cultures.
