New research indicates that children of divorced parents are nearly two-thirds more likely to experience a stroke later in life. The study analyzed data from 13,205 individuals aged 65 and older who participated in the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a project conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Findings revealed that children whose parents divorced before turning 18 were 61% more likely to have a stroke, even after accounting for other known risk factors like depression, diabetes, and low social support.
The study’s lead author, Esme Fuller-Thomson, explained that they excluded participants who had experienced sexual or physical abuse from the analysis. “Our research wanted to clarify the association between parental divorce and stroke risk without introducing potential confounding factors,” she said.
Experts have suggested that the link between parental divorce and stroke may be influenced by both biological and social factors. Biological factors could include stress hormones raised during family disintegration, while social factors might involve challenges in forming supportive relationships later in life.
If future studies confirm these findings, healthcare professionals may consider a patient’s family history when providing stroke prevention advice or educational support.
Source: https://people.com/children-of-divorce-have-a-higher-risk-of-stroke-study-finds-8780292