Childhood Divorce & Stroke Risk
- Experiencing parental divorce during childhood may elevate the risk of stroke in later years, suggests a study by Esme Fuller-Thomson and colleagues at the University of Toronto, Canada.
- The study, analyzing data from over 13,000 adults aged 65 and older from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, revealed a meaningful association between childhood parental divorce...
- Researchers found that individuals whose parents divorced before they turned 18 had 1.61 times greater odds of experiencing a stroke compared to those who did not experience parental...
Childhood parental divorce may substantially heighten the risk of stroke later in life, according to a new study. Researchers found that adults who experienced their parents’ divorce before age 18 faced a 60% increased likelihood of stroke. This elevated risk persisted even after accounting for known stroke risk factors like diabetes and depression.The study, published in PLOS One, analyzed data from over 13,000 adults. The findings underscore a concerning link between adverse childhood experiences and long-term health outcomes,a key area News Directory 3 covers. While the exact mechanisms remain unclear,these results warrant further examination into how early-life adversity impacts stroke risk. Discover what’s next in this developing area of research.
Childhood Divorce Linked to Increased Stroke Risk Later in Life
Experiencing parental divorce during childhood may elevate the risk of stroke in later years, suggests a study by Esme Fuller-Thomson and colleagues at the University of Toronto, Canada. The findings were published in PLOS One.
The study, analyzing data from over 13,000 adults aged 65 and older from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, revealed a meaningful association between childhood parental divorce and stroke risk. Approximately 795,000 strokes occur annually in the U.S.
Researchers found that individuals whose parents divorced before they turned 18 had 1.61 times greater odds of experiencing a stroke compared to those who did not experience parental divorce. This correlation persisted irrespective of gender and remained significant even after accounting for known stroke risk factors such as diabetes, depression, and limited social support.
The study did not explore the underlying mechanisms driving this association, nor did it establish a causal relationship. researchers also noted that the findings might not apply to younger generations, who have generally experienced higher rates of parental divorce. Data limitations also prevented consideration of factors like blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and specific stroke types.
Despite these limitations, the authors contend that their research supports a link between parental divorce during childhood and a heightened risk of stroke, even in the absence of childhood abuse or other traumatic experiences.
“It is indeed extremely concerning that older adults who grew up in divorced families had 60% higher odds of stroke, even after excluding those who had been physically or sexually abused as children,” said Esme Fuller-Thomson, senior author. “The magnitude of the association between parental divorce and stroke was comparable to well-established risk factors for stroke such as male gender and having diabetes.”
What’s next
Further research is needed to understand the biological and social mechanisms that might explain the link between childhood parental divorce and increased stroke risk,and to determine if interventions could mitigate this risk.