Single fathers are at higher risk of early mortality, according to results of a study published in the medical journal The Lancet Public Health. For researchers, it is explained by high stress and a poorer quality of life.
Researchers at the University of Toronto in Canada conducted a study with health questionnaires of 40,500 people for 11 to assess the risk of early mortality in fathers and single mothers. The study population consisted of 871 single fathers, 4,590 single mothers, 16,341 fathers and 18,688 married mothers.
Single fathers under stress
The results of the study showed that for single fathers, the death rate was 5.8 per thousand, 1.7 per thousand for single mothers and 1.9 per thousand for fathers in a relationship.
Researchers observed that single fathers were often affected by a Cancer or some cardiovascular illnesses, which is why their risk of mortality remained twice as high.
Scientists explain this situation by a level of stress high and less healthy lifestyles. Dads who live alone have a unbalanced diet, do little physical exercise, and consume morealcohol. In addition, these single men benefit less from a social network, social assistance or relatives in the education of their children than single mothers.
“Our study highlights that single fathers have higher mortality, and demonstrates the need for public health policies to help identify and support these men,” said lead author Maria Chiu, public health researcher at the University of Toronto.
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