Parental break-ups and stress: roles of age & family structure in 44 509 pre-adolescent children.
Eur J Public Health
; 27(5): 829-834, 2017 10 01.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28449034
ABSTRACT
Background:
Parental break-up is wide spread, and the effects of parental break-up on children's well-being are known. The evidence regarding child age at break-up and subsequent family arrangements is inconclusive.Aim:
to estimate the effects of parental break-up on stress in pre-adolescent children with a specific focus on age at break-up and post-breakup family arrangements.Methods:
We used data from the Danish National Birth Cohort. Participants included 44 509 children followed from birth to age 11. Stress was self-reported by children at age 11, when the children also reported on parental break-up and post break-up family arrangements.Results:
Twenty-one percent of the children had experienced a parental break-up at age 11, and those who had experienced parental break-up showed a higher risk of stress (OR1.72, 95%CI1.55;1.91) regardless of the child's age at break-up. Children living in a new family with stepparents (OR = 1.63, 95%CI1.38;1.92), or shared between the parents (OR = 1.48, 95%CI1.26;1.75) reported higher stress than children of intact families. Single parent families reported markedly higher stress levels than children in intact families (OR = 2.18, 95%CI1.90;2.50) and all other family types. Children who were satisfied with their living arrangements post-break-up reported the same stress level as children living in intact families (OR = 1.01, 95%CI0.86;1.18).Conclusion:
Children who experience parental break-up have higher stress levels, also many years after the break-up, and those living in a single parent household post break-up seem to be most vulnerable. Living arrangements post-breakup should be further investigated as a potential protective factor.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Relações Pais-Filho
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Estresse Psicológico
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Divórcio
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Poder Familiar
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Relações Familiares
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2017
Tipo de documento:
Article