Recent studies conducted by scientists from the USA and Canada have revealed that parental divorce in childhood can significantly increase the risk of stroke later in life. This applies even to those who did not experience physical violence. The study involved 13,205 Americans over the age of 65, whose data was collected as part of the national Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey. The results of the study were published in the journal PLOS ONE and are discussed on lenta.ru.
According to the survey, 7.3% of respondents had already experienced a stroke, and 13.9% reported their parents' divorce before they reached adulthood. After analyzing various factors, including age, income level, the presence of diseases such as diabetes, smoking, and depression, researchers noted that the risk of stroke in individuals who experienced parental divorce was 61% higher (with a coefficient of 1.61). Moreover, the increase in risk was the same for both genders.
The authors of the study suggest that the reason for this phenomenon may be chronic stress experienced in childhood: family conflicts, financial difficulties, and a sense of insecurity can significantly alter the functioning of the body's stress systems and cardiovascular regulation. Among the intermediate factors affecting health, scientists add increased risks of hypertension, sleep disorders, and depression—conditions that have long been considered predispositions to stroke.
Although the study does not establish a direct link between parental divorce and stroke, it emphasizes that family circumstances in early childhood can have long-term negative consequences for vascular health.
Previously, scientists also developed a new method that may accelerate recovery after ischemic stroke.
