New research shows a link between a mother\u2019s poor health and her children\u2019s well-being. This link did not show up for fathers. However, if the father is living in the home, the association between the mother\u2019s poor health and the problems that children experience is smaller, suggesting that the father\u2019s presence may help alleviate pressure on the children.<\/p>\n
Researchers, Jessica Halliday Hardie<\/a> at Hunter College, City University of New York, and Kristin Turney<\/a> at the University of California, Irvine, examined data from 3,273 families taken from the U.S. Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study.<\/p>\n They examined the association between parents\u2019 poor health when children were aged 5 and 9 and children\u2019s wellbeing at age 9.<\/p>\n Mothers\u2019 poor health, particularly if chronic or occurring later in the child\u2019s life, is linked to more sadness\/introspection on the part of the child, more disruptive behaviour, lower verbal ability, and worse overall health. But if the father is present in the home, then the link with sadness\/introspection disappears.<\/p>\n The researchers also looked to see whether grandparents living in the house had the same influence as fathers, but they did not.<\/p>\n The researchers conclude: \u201cThese findings support calls to consider health as a family affair. Policies and practices designed to address health at the family level are key to supporting all family members.\u201d<\/p>\n