Single-parent family background and physical illness in adulthood: a follow-up study of the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort

The association between single-parent family background and physical illnes s in early adulthood was studied in a sample of an unselected, general popu lation: the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort. Between the ages of 16 and 18 years, women of single-parent family background were more commonly treat ed (61% versus 57%) for any physical condition in hospital wards compared w ith women of two-parent family background. Spontaneous abortions (odds rati o; OR = 1.4, 95% CI 1.0 - 2.0), complications of pregnancy (OR = 1.1, 95% C I 1.0-1.3), and intracranial injuries (OR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.0-3.8) were more common among women with single-parent family background. They also had a cl early higher risk for induced abortions (OR = 1.6, 95% CI 1.4-1.9), and a h igher incidence of deliveries than did other women. The risk of hospital-tr eated physical illness did not differ between men of single-parent and two- parent family background. Poisonings and injuries were, however. more commo n reasons for hospital admission among men with single-parent family backgr ound than among other men. In conclusion, our main finding was that, among women, an association between overall hospital-treated physical illness and single-parent family background does exist. However, offspring of single-p arent families are mostly in as good physical health as others.