AARHUS, Denmark, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- Researchers in Denmark have discovered an odd correlation between birth weight and social trust. Evidence suggests birth weight predicts a person's predilection for trust as an adult.
"Social trust is extremely important for society," Michael Bang Petersen, a researcher at the Aarhus School of Business and Social Sciences, said in a press release. "In many ways, it is what keeps society together. When we sort our waste, when we vote, when we pay our taxes, it's all a function of how much trust we have in one another."
In a unique attempt to locate the deep physiological roots of social trust (and distrust), Petersen and his colleague Lene Aaroe compared study participants' scores on social trust tests to their recorded birth weights.
"A lot of earlier research suggests that experiences in early childhood affect how you react psychologically as an adult," Petersen explained. "We wanted to investigate if experiences in the embryonic stage also have an impact on psychological patterns in adulthood."
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Scientists measured social trust levels by administering psychological tests during which participants were asked to answer questions like whether "most people can be trusted," and respond to statements like "a person cannot be too careful when dealing with other individuals."
Those who showed lower levels of social trust were more likely to have been born prematurely or at a low birth weight.
Researchers say their findings are consistent with similar psychological studies which show the level of nurture a child receives in his or her formative years can influence the child's outlook.
"Children are very much influenced by signals from the environment about the kind of world we're living in, and whether it's a cold and uncaring place, or a safe one," Aaroe said.
The study's results are detailed in the latest issue of the journal Psychological Science.
Aaroe says the new findings are proof of the importance of providing expectant mothers with the means and access to resources needed to maintain a safe and nourishing environment.
"Social trust is at the very core of modern society and shapes how citizens interact," Aaroe said. "By achieving a better understanding of the factors that lead to social trust we also get closer to understanding the basic elements that ensure social coherence."
