Compared to childless peers, parents have to endure sleepless nights, stress from toddler tantrums and teenage angst, and relatively less active social life. Despite the advantages of having no offsprings, a recent study has revealed that parenthood is actually linked to longer life.
In a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, it was shown that the difference in life expectancy by the age of 60 can be as much as two years between people with and without kids.
To arrive at this conclusion, researchers monitored the lifespan of more than 1.4 million males and females born between 1911 and 1925 and residing in Sweden. They also determined whether the participants were married and had kids.
The researchers discovered that males and females with at least one offspring had “lower death risks” compared to childless participants.
"At 60 years of age, the difference in life expectancy was two years for men and 1.5 years for women,” the researchers wrote.
Meanwhile, it was found that men who have children had a remaining life expectancy of seven years and eight months by age 80, compared to seven years for childless males.
The results of the study revealed that there was a correlation although researchers can’t conclude if having kids caused gains in terms of life expectancy.
Social and financial support benefits from their children in older age is one of the possible reasons why parents tend to live longer. Moreover, it is also possible that childless people have unhealthier lifestyles compared to parents.
The link between having children and longer life was observed in married and unmarried people. Researchers noted that the link was strongest in single, older men possibly because unmarried men depended heavily on their children in the absence of a partner.
The research team suggested further investigation of health and survival consequences for childless older individuals.
--Mini, The Summit Express
In a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, it was shown that the difference in life expectancy by the age of 60 can be as much as two years between people with and without kids.
To arrive at this conclusion, researchers monitored the lifespan of more than 1.4 million males and females born between 1911 and 1925 and residing in Sweden. They also determined whether the participants were married and had kids.
The researchers discovered that males and females with at least one offspring had “lower death risks” compared to childless participants.
"At 60 years of age, the difference in life expectancy was two years for men and 1.5 years for women,” the researchers wrote.
Meanwhile, it was found that men who have children had a remaining life expectancy of seven years and eight months by age 80, compared to seven years for childless males.
The results of the study revealed that there was a correlation although researchers can’t conclude if having kids caused gains in terms of life expectancy.
Social and financial support benefits from their children in older age is one of the possible reasons why parents tend to live longer. Moreover, it is also possible that childless people have unhealthier lifestyles compared to parents.
The link between having children and longer life was observed in married and unmarried people. Researchers noted that the link was strongest in single, older men possibly because unmarried men depended heavily on their children in the absence of a partner.
The research team suggested further investigation of health and survival consequences for childless older individuals.
--Mini, The Summit Express
