As reported by IZ with reference to SciTechDaily, a new study has shown that parental divorce before the age of 18 increases the likelihood of developing a stroke by 60% in adulthood. This discovery, published in the scientific journal PLOS One, confirms that even in the absence of physical or sexual abuse, a child's experience of divorce can have serious consequences for health in the future. The study was based on data from more than 13,000 adults collected through the Behavioral Factors Monitoring Program in the United States.
The risk of developing a stroke was 61% higher among those who experienced parental divorce before the age of 18, compared to people who grew up in intact families. This phenomenon did not depend on gender and remained significant even after taking into account factors such as diabetes and depression. Importantly, the study does not provide information on the possible mechanisms of this association, which remains a topic for further scientific research.
Esme Fuller-Thomson and her team note that despite the many known risk factors for stroke, such as high cholesterol or blood pressure, the influence of social factors, such as parental divorce, should also be considered in prevention strategies. The study showed that this factor may be as important as the presence of diabetes or the patient's gender.
These results are important for understanding how social factors and family conditions in childhood can affect health in older age. They emphasize the importance of early psychological support for children from families where divorce occurs, as this can be a key element in preventing serious diseases in the future.
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