from Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health
Studies have shown married people tend to live longer, but a new study suggests there may be another factor. That is parenthood. The study in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health shows that by the age of sixty being a parent may add as much as two years of life, compared to people of the same age without children. Researchers found, as expected, the risk of death increased with age, but after taking various factors into consideration, people with children tended to live longer than those who were childless. Men had a slightly greater benefit than women. Among older people who were unmarried, a greater longevity benefit was seen, especially unmarried older men. Researchers say unmarried men might be relying more heavily on their children in the absence of a partner.