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Toronto, Canada – A new study published in PLOS One has revealed a concerning link between parental divorce during childhood and an increased risk of stroke in later life. Researchers from the University of Toronto, Tyndale University, and the University of Texas at Arlington found that older adults who experienced their parents’ divorce were 61% more likely to have suffered a stroke compared to those from intact families.
This finding remained significant even after accounting for well-established stroke risk factors such as smoking, physical inactivity, low income, diabetes, depression, and low social support. The strength of this association is comparable to the impact of diabetes and depression on stroke risk.
“Our study indicates that even after taking into account most of the known risk factors associated with stroke—including smoking, physical inactivity, lower income and education, diabetes, depression, and low social support—those whose parents had divorced still had 61% higher odds of having a stroke,” said Mary Kate Schilke, the study’s lead author.
While the study cannot definitively prove causation, researchers believe that the link may be due to a combination of biological and social factors.
“From a biological embedding perspective, having your parents split up during childhood could lead to sustained high levels of stress hormones,” explained Professor Esme Fuller-Thomson, senior author of the study. “Experiencing this as a child could have lasting influences on the developing brain and a child’s ability to respond to stress.”
The study analyzed data from over 13,000 older Americans and controlled for other childhood adversities such as abuse and neglect.
“We found that even when people hadn’t experienced childhood physical and sexual abuse and had at least one adult who made them feel safe in their childhood home, they still were more likely to have a stroke if their parents had divorced,” said co-author Philip Baiden.
Researchers emphasize the need for further investigation into the mechanisms behind this association. However, these findings highlight the potential long-term health consequences of parental divorce and may have implications for stroke prevention strategies.
“If future research finds similar links between parental divorce and stroke, it is possible that knowledge about whether or not their patient grew up in an intact family will be used by health professionals improve targeted outreach for stroke prevention and education,” said Schilke.
This study underscores the importance of considering the social and emotional well-being of children during and after parental separation to potentially mitigate long-term health risks.
