A study by researchers from Canada and the United States has revealed that adults over 65 who experienced parental divorce during childhood may have a higher risk of stroke. Published in PLOS One, the study found that 1 in 9 adults aged 65+ whose parents divorced reported having a stroke, compared to 1 in 15 whose parents did not divorce. Researchers from the University of Toronto, Tyndale University, and the University of Texas at Arlington conducted the study.
Lead author Mary Kate Schilke stated, “Even after accounting for known stroke risk factors—like smoking, low income, depression, and diabetes—those whose parents divorced had a 61% higher chance of stroke.” The link between parental divorce and stroke was found to be as strong as the risks associated with diabetes and depression.
The study used 2022 data from over 13,000 older adults in the U.S., excluding those with childhood abuse experiences. Participants who experienced parental divorce had significantly higher odds of reporting a stroke diagnosis (adjusted odds ratio = 1.61).
Although the exact cause is unclear, researchers believe prolonged stress from parental divorce may affect children’s health long-term, potentially increasing cardiovascular risk. Experts emphasize the importance of considering childhood experiences as part of a patient’s overall health history when assessing stroke risk.
The study highlights the need for more research into this connection and urges clinicians to consider childhood parental divorce as a potential stroke risk marker.
