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Childless couples are at risk of dying prematurely
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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Scientists from Aarhus University, Denmark, conducted a study and concluded that childless couples are at significant risk of premature death, especially for women.
There is an expression that parents sometimes say in their hearts: "Your own children will drive you to the grave." However, in reality, everything is completely different. It is the inability to have children that can lead to premature death.
The scientists' research sheds light on the age-old question of whether children are really capable of filling life with happiness and joy and, thus, prolonging the years of their parents. And indeed, the answer to this question is yes. Compared to childless couples, happy parents live longer.
The only exception is couples who do not want to have children at all. The high risk of early death lies in wait for those families who tried to become parents, but their attempts were not crowned with success.
Among the possible causes of early death, scientists cite alcoholism, drug addiction, depression, mental illness, as well as physical ailments associated with infertility.
The results of the scientists' research were published in the scientific journal "Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health". And the data obtained by the experts is based on an analysis of statistical information for the period from 1994 to 2008.
The researchers said a variety of statistics, including income indicators, birth and death records, information on physical and mental illnesses, and in vitro fertilization, helped identify trends in the length and quality of life of childless couples and families with children.
The authors of the research also examined the health of 21,276 couples, residents of Denmark, who were unable to conceive a child naturally and turned to the method of in vitro fertilization.
Experts have found that childless women have a fourfold increased risk of premature death compared to those who have experienced the joy of motherhood. Risk factors include cardiovascular diseases, the development of malignant tumors, and even accidents. Compared to childless women, those who decided to adopt a child reduced their risk of premature death by half.
As for men, in principle, the same pattern is true for them, but with the caveat that there is no difference between adoption and biological paternity.
The scientists' conclusions may seem unoriginal and too simple, because single people can neglect the disease and rarely visit doctors. However, how can we explain the fact that couples with children and childless couples have the same level of mental illness. Only couples who adopted a child had a lower risk. However, this may be explained by the fact that adopting a child is not that easy.
Of course, experts also took into account risk factors leading to early death, such as chronic diseases, smoking, education, income level, etc.
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