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

In the early 1950s, multiple-choice scores reflecting feelings of warm th and closeness with parents were obtained from a sample of healthy, undergraduate Harvard men who participated in the Harvard Mastery of S tress Study. Thirty-five years later detailed medical and psychologica l histories and medical records were obtained. Ninety-one percent of p articipants who did not perceive themselves to have had a warm relatio nship with their mothers (assessed during college) had diagnosed disea ses in midlife (including coronary artery disease, hypertension, duode nal ulcer and alcoholism), as compared to 45% of participants who perc eived themselves to have had a warm relationship with their mothers. A similar association between perceived warmth and closeness and future illness was obtained for fathers. Since parents are usually the most meaningful source of social support in early life, the perception of p arental love and caring may have important effects on biological and p sychological health and illness throughout life.