This activity guides the analysis of a published scientific figure from a study on how adversity in early life impacts the long-term survival of baboons.

Experiencing poverty, abuse, and other adverse conditions in childhood may increase an individual’s risk for health issues as an adult. In this study, scientists analyzed long-term survival data from a baboon population in Kenya. The figure shows survival curves for 196 adult female baboons, grouped by the number of adverse conditions they had experienced early in life. The conditions included drought, overcrowding, low social status, maternal loss, and sibling rivalry.

The “Educator Materials” document includes a captioned figure, background information, graph interpretation, and discussion questions. The “Student Handout” includes a captioned figure and background information