Divorce can profoundly affect children’s mental health, with new research from The University of Texas at Arlington suggesting these impacts might extend much longer than previously believed, potentially leading to severe health issues decades later. In a recent study published in the journal PLoS One, Associate Professor Philip Baiden found that Americans aged 65 and older who had experienced their parents’ divorce as children were more likely to suffer a stroke compared to their peers whose parents had not divorced. The study noted a significant difference in stroke incidence: one in nine for those with divorced parents versus one in 15 for those whose parents stayed together.
Dr. Baiden, along with colleagues from Tyndale University and the University of Toronto, conducted the research, which pointed to an increased stroke risk even after accounting for common risk factors such as smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, diabetes, depression, income, and education. He suggests that the trauma of parental divorce might lead to prolonged exposure to stress hormones, adversely affecting brain health over time. This research utilized data from over 13,000 older Americans who participated in the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, selectively excluding individuals who had experienced physical or sexual abuse as children to isolate the effects of divorce.
The study also highlighted the specific cohort’s social context; the youngest individuals surveyed were born in 1957, more than a decade before the advent of no-fault divorce laws in 1969. Dr Baiden noted that this group likely faced more significant social stigma related to divorce from their communities and peers compared to later generations who experienced parental divorce when it became more socially acceptable.
Despite its limitations, the study underscores the critical link between childhood experiences and long-term health outcomes, particularly the profound and enduring effects of strokes. Dr. Baiden pointed out that about half of all stroke cases are fatal, and survivors often suffer significant impairments such as reduced mobility and cognitive decline, which can strip them of their independence. Moreover, strokes impose a heavy financial toll, with their direct and indirect costs in the U.S. alone surpassing $56 billion annually.
As a seasoned researcher of adverse childhood experiences and social determinants of health, Dr. Baiden views this study as a significant contribution to understanding the long-term impacts of childhood trauma on adult brain health. He plans to explore further how childhood conditions like poverty, stress, and sleep disorders may intersect with stroke risk, as well as the specific biological mechanisms through which divorce might contribute to this risk.
An unexpected finding of the study was the higher incidence of strokes among males who experienced childhood divorce, compared to females—despite the general trend of higher stroke rates in women. This anomaly adds another layer of complexity to the issue and is something Dr. Baiden intends to investigate further in future research.
More information: Philip Baiden et al, Parental divorce’s long shadow: Elevated stroke risk among older Americans, PLOS One. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0316580
Journal information: PLOS One Provided by University of Texas at Arlington
