PERCEPTIONS OF PARENTAL CAVING PREDICT HEALTH-STATUS IN MIDLIFE - A 35-YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF THE HARVARD MASTERY OF STRESS STUDY

Objective: This study examined how the perception of parental caring, obtained from undergraduates, relates to subsequent health over the en suing 35 years. Methods: In the early 1950s, initial ratings of parent al caring were obtained from a sample of healthy, Harvard undergraduat e men who participated in the Harvard Mastery of Stress Study. In a 35 year prospective, follow-up investigation, detailed medical and psych ological histories and medical records were obtained, Results: Subject s identified in midlife as suffering from illnesses such as coronary a rtery disease, hypertension, duodenal ulcer, and alcoholism, gave thei r parents significantly lower ratings (p <.00003) on perceived parenta l caring items (loving, just, fair, hardworking, clever, strong) while in college, This effect was independent of subject's age, family hist ory of illness, smoking behavior, the death and/or divorce of parents, and marital history of subjects. Furthermore, 87% of subjects who rat ed both their mothers and fathers low in parental caring had diagnosed diseases in midlife, whereas only 25% of subjects who rated both thei r mothers and fathers high in parental caring had diagnosed diseases i n midlife. Conclusions: Since parents are usually the most meaningful source of social support for much of early life, the perception of par ental caring, and parental loving itself, may have important regulator y and predictive effects on biological and psychological health and il lness.