A recent study published in the journal PLOS One reveals a connection between parental divorce during childhood and a higher risk of stroke in older adults. Researchers from the University of Toronto, Tyndale University, and the University of Texas at Arlington found that seniors who experienced parental divorce face a 61% higher risk of stroke compared to those from intact families.
The study analyzed data from 13,205 Americans aged 65 and older, collected by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2022. Of these participants, 13.9% had experienced their parents' divorce before the age of 18, most of whom went through this during the 1960s and 1970s when divorce was less common. The researchers aimed to investigate the long-term health consequences of childhood family dynamics on adult health outcomes.
"We found that even when individuals had not suffered physical and sexual abuse in childhood and had at least one adult who made them feel safe in their childhood home, they were still more likely to suffer a stroke if their parents had divorced," said Philip Baiden, a researcher involved in the study, according to The Economic Times.
The researchers discovered that the elevated stroke risk persisted even after accounting for known stroke risk factors such as smoking, physical inactivity, lower income and education, diabetes, depression, and low social support. "Our study indicates that even after accounting for most known risk factors associated with stroke, those whose parents had divorced were still 61% more likely to suffer a stroke," said Mary Kate Schilke, a professor in the Department of Psychology at Tyndale University, according to The Economic Times.
Esme Fuller-Thomson, the lead author of the study and a professor at the University of Toronto, explained that the reason for the correlation between parental divorce and stroke remains unclear. "While this type of survey-based study cannot establish causality, we hope our consistent findings inspire others to examine the issue," she said.
The researchers hypothesize that the mechanism behind the link between parental divorce and stroke risk could be biological. "From a biological perspective, parental divorce in childhood could lead to persistently high levels of stress hormones. Experiencing this event as a child could have lasting effects on the developing brain and the child's ability to respond to stress," Fuller-Thomson explained.
The study found that other forms of childhood adversity, such as emotional abuse, neglect, mental illness in the home, substance abuse, or exposure to parental domestic violence, were not associated with stroke. The specificity of these findings makes the divorce-stroke connection even more intriguing, suggesting an impact of childhood family experiences on long-term health, particularly in relation to cardiovascular health.
The researchers emphasized that several factors, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, contraceptive use, age at parents' divorce, and types of strokes, were not available in the data. They clarified that their conclusions may not be generalizable to younger generations who have experienced overall higher rates of parental divorce. "Due to changes in societal norms, it is uncertain whether Generation X or Millennials will experience the same connection between parental divorce and stroke as the Baby Boom and Silent Generations in our study," Fuller-Thomson said.
This study replicates findings from a similar study conducted nearly a decade ago, where the authors found equally strong links between parental divorce and increased stroke risk. The consistent results suggest an impact of childhood family experiences on long-term health.
A stroke occurs due to a blocked or ruptured blood vessel, leading to a sudden disruption of blood flow to the brain, which can result in brain damage. Consequences of a stroke can vary from paralysis to speech problems or memory loss.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.