Intelligence and season of birth

Orme, J. E.

doi:10.1111/j.2044-8341.1962.tb00521.x

Cited by 29 publications

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“…An analysis of these data waa made, together with climatic temperature levels during the embryonic development of these individuals. The association between season of birth and subsequent intellectual performance appears to be a result of the climatic changes (as measured by climatic temperature) occurring throughout pregnancy.A previous report (Orme, 1962) confirmed earlier accounts that season of birth was significantly associated with an individual's subsequent intellectual performance. Winter and spring births gave adverse performances compared with summer and autumn births.…”

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Intelligence, Season of Birth and Climatic Temperature

Orme

1963

British J of Psychology

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Among a sample of adult int,ollect,ual subnormals, season of birth is significantly associated with the subsequent level of intellectual performance. An analysis of these data waa made, together with climatic temperature levels during the embryonic development of these individuals. The association between season of birth and subsequent intellectual performance appears to be a result of the climatic changes (as measured by climatic temperature) occurring throughout pregnancy.A previous report (Orme, 1962) confirmed earlier accounts that season of birth was significantly associated with an individual's subsequent intellectual performance. Winter and spring births gave adverse performances compared with summer and autumn births. Varying suggestions occur in the literature as to the critical period of development involved (Orme, 1962). The present report attempts to examine these hypotheses using a random sample of adult patients in mental subnormality hospitals in the Sheffield area. All are in the 40-69 I.&. range, the I.&. measurements being derived from Coloured Matrices performances (Orme, 196 1). The latter performances are used in an attempt to measure the intellectual efficiency of the organism, relatively unaffected by educational or manipulative factors.The most obvious seasonal climatic variable is that of temperature. Most of the subjects studied were born in the Sheffield area and temperature data for this area were available. It was argued that the seasonal effect on intelligence would be paralleled by the effect of monthly temperatures above or below that month's average temperature. It was further argued that such a finding would be restricted to a certain period during development if that period was a specially critical one for intelligence. For each individual the month of birth and the preceding nine months were examined. This covered the period from conception to birth.The present sample of 188 is the one used previously (Orme, 1962) with the addition of 40 more cases. Table 1 gives the seasonal distribution of births contrasting the third (55-69 I.Q.) and fourth (40-54 I.Q.) standard deviations below the mean. The previously reported seasonal effect persists, with a higher level of statistical significance because of the increased sample size. Table 2 shows that apart from this seasonal effect, intelligence is enhanced by the number of months of embryonic development with a mean monthly temperature greater than that month's over-all monthly mean temperature. Taking the seasons separately, only summer birth individually repeats this effect significantly. No one peirod or month of embryonic development produced evidence of special importance using this method.On the other hand, certain calendar months or sequence of months appeared to produce significant effects. These are listed in Table 3. These effects involve the fourth to eighth month of pregnancy, the only common pregnancy month being the fifth one.

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“…For each individual the month of birth and the preceding nine months were examined. This covered the period from conception to birth.The present sample of 188 is the one used previously (Orme, 1962) with the addition of 40 more cases. Table 1 gives the seasonal distribution of births contrasting the third (55-69 I.Q.)…”

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Intelligence, Season of Birth and Climatic Temperature

Orme

1963

British J of Psychology

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“…Different theories have been proposed to explain this effect. One explanation is that a season-of-birth effect is linked to prenatal exposure to infections [7], similar to the effect identified for schizophrenia and major depression [8]. Another rationalization is that pupils who are relatively younger have less preschool experience and are therefore less well equipped to meet the demanding expectations at school [9].…”

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Is relatively young age within a school year a risk factor for mental health problems and poor school performance? A population-based cross-sectional study of adolescents in Oslo, Norway

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Background: Several studies have shown that children who are relatively young within a school year are at greater risk for poorer school performance compared with their older peers. One study also reported that relative age within a school year is an independent risk factor for emotional and behavioral problems. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that relatively younger adolescents in the multiethnic population of Oslo have poorer school performance and more mental health problems than their relatively older classmates within the same school year.

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“…There is a considerable body of research which examines the relationship between season of birth and intelligence. It is not proposed to review it here (see Chrimes, 1970), but the main studies 1939;Fitt, 1941;Roberts, 1944;Orme, 1962 and1963) indicate a slight mental superiority among those born in the summer. This finding, therefore, does not provide an explanation for the poor school performance of summer-born children-at the same time it does not necessarily conflict with the above, since the summer-born can be both mentally superior and at a disadvantage in school because of their age.…”

Section: Length Of Infant School and Academic Performance Joan Barkermentioning

confidence: 94%

Length of Infant School and Academic Performance

Lunn¹

1972

Educational Research

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Intelligence and season of birth

Cited by 29 publications

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Intelligence, Season of Birth and Climatic Temperature

Intelligence, Season of Birth and Climatic Temperature

Is relatively young age within a school year a risk factor for mental health problems and poor school performance? A population-based cross-sectional study of adolescents in Oslo, Norway

Length of Infant School and Academic Performance

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