Gabriele Doblhammer

http://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol1/3/

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Abstract
This article shows that in two European countries, Austria and Denmark, a person’s life span correlates with his or her month of birth. It presents evidence that this pattern is not the result of the seasonal distribution of death. It also shows that the seasonal pattern in longevity cannot be explained by the so-called birthday phenomenon, the alleged tendency of people to die shortly after their birthday. The article concludes with a discussion of possible social and biological mechanisms related to a person’s season of birth that might influence life expectancy.

Author's affiliation
Gabriele Doblhammer
Rostocker Zentrum zur Erforschung des Demografischen Wandels, Germany

Keywords
birth, birthday, causes of death, longevity, mortality, seasonality

Word count (Main text)
4043

Other Articles by the same author/authors (in Demographic Research)

	[19-51] Trends in educational mortality differentials in Austria between 1981/82 and 2001/2002: A study based on a linkage of census data and death certificates
	[9-9] Seasonal mortality in Denmark: the role of sex and age

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