Frontiers in Public Health · 3 authors, 2 centres
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This study analyzed survey data from 3,464 adults aged 18–36 in China to find that not living with parents during childhood or adolescence was associated with worse self-rated physical health and higher depression scores in adulthood, with stronger negative effects for younger children and females.
This study used data from 3,464 respondents aged 18–36 in the 2018 China Labor-Force Dynamics Survey. The researchers used ordered probit and ordinary least-squares regression to examine associations between living without parents at different childhood and adolescent stages and self-rated physical health and depression scores in adulthood. The central result was that individuals who did not live with their parents during their minor years had worse physical and mental health in adulthood compared to those who did, with the negative effects being more pronounced for younger children and for females. Limitations include reliance on respondent recall for childhood living arrangements, a single self-report item for physical health, and an inability to differentiate effects of living without a father versus a mother. The findings suggest that parental absence has long-term negative impacts on health, with implications for policy to support families.
