Individuals whose parents separated during their youth could face a higher likelihood of experiencing a stroke later in life, suggests a recent study.
According to a new study published on January 22, 2025, in the open-access journal PLOS One, conducted by Esme Fuller-Thomson and her team from the University of Toronto, Canada, this population may be at an increased risk.
Each year, around 795,000 people in the U.S. suffer from a stroke. Previous research has identified several sociodemographic factors that can increase stroke risk, as well as links between adverse experiences in childhood and stroke occurrence. This new study specifically examined the effects of parental divorce in childhood among adults without a history of childhood abuse. The researchers utilized data from 13,205 adults aged 65 and older, drawn from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
The findings revealed that individuals who experienced parental divorce before reaching the age of 18 had 1.61 times higher odds of suffering a stroke compared to those who did not experience such a divorce (AOR=1.61, 95% CI=1.15-2.24). This relationship was consistent across genders and persisted even after accounting for known risk factors like diabetes, depression, and limited social support.
This study was not intended to delve into the underlying mechanisms behind this association, nor was it designed to establish a cause-and-effect relationship. Additionally, the results may not apply to younger generations, who have witnessed higher overall rates of parental divorce. Moreover, several potential influencing factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels, contraceptive use, age at parents’ divorce, and types of strokes were not included in the available data.
Nonetheless, the authors assert that their findings indicate a link between experiencing parental divorce during childhood and a heightened risk of stroke, even in the absence of childhood abuse and other traumatic experiences.
Esme Fuller-Thomson, the senior author, stated: “It is very troubling that older adults who grew up in divorced families had 60% increased odds of stroke, even after excluding those who were physically or sexually abused as children. The strength of the connection between parental divorce and stroke risk is similar to well-known stroke risk factors, including male gender and diabetes.”
