1
|
Varis H, Hagnäs M, Mikkola I, Nordström T, Puukka K, Taanila A, Keinänen-Kiukaanniemi S. Parental separation and offspring morbidity in adulthood: a descriptive study of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966. Scand J Public Health 2021; 50:601-612. [PMID: 34030537 DOI: 10.1177/14034948211014296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Aims: Rates of parental separation have increased dramatically in recent decades. We evaluated the association of individuals' childhood family structure with their somatic health over 46 years of follow-up. Methods: Data were drawn from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort, an ongoing project in which 12,058 participants born in 1966 have been followed from their 24th gestational week. Based on information supplied at age 14 years, family structure was categorised as 'single-parent family' and 'two-parent family'. The anthropometric information, data from blood samples and medical history were collected from postal questionnaires and clinical examinations routinely performed at the ages of 31 and 46 years. Results: The study population comprised a total of 10,895 individuals; 85% (n=9253) were offspring of two-parent families and 15% (n=1642) of single-parent families. Type 2 diabetes (P=0.032) or prediabetes (P=0.007), psychoactive drug problems (P<0.001) and sexually transmitted diseases (P<0.001) were more common in the single-parent family group than in the participants from two-parent families. In addition, among men back diseases (P=0.002), and among women hypertension (P=0.003) and ovary infection (P=0.024) were more frequent in individuals affected by parental death than in those from two-parent families. Conclusions: Our results indicate the association of childhood family structure with offspring morbidity during 46 years' follow-up. The lifetime morbidity was observed to be higher among offspring from a single-parent family compared to two-parent family offspring. Public and scientific concern about the consequences of parental separation on the offspring' health exist, therefore support from healthcare professionals and society is warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Varis
- Center for Life Course Health Research, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Rovaniemi Health Centre, Rovaniemi, Finland
| | - Maria Hagnäs
- Center for Life Course Health Research, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Rovaniemi Health Centre, Rovaniemi, Finland.,Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.,Diabetes and Obesity Unit, Garibaldi Hospital, Catania, Italy
| | | | - Tanja Nordström
- Center for Life Course Health Research, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Infrastructure for Population Studies, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | | | - Anja Taanila
- Center for Life Course Health Research, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Sirkka Keinänen-Kiukaanniemi
- Center for Life Course Health Research, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Unit of Primary Care, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.,Healthcare and Social Services of Selänne, Pyhäjärvi, Finland
| |
Collapse
|