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Women's childhood experience of parental separation and their subsequent health and socioeconomic status in adulthood

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

Diana Kuh  and
Mavis Maclean
Diana Kuh
Affiliation:
MRC National Survey of Health and Development, University College London, and The Middlesex Hospital Medical School, Department of Community Medicine, Gower Street, London
Mavis Maclean
Affiliation:
Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, Wolfson College, Oxford
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Summary

The long term consequences for women of parental divorce and separation in childhood are explored using data from a national, prospective, longitudinal survey. In comparison with women who suffered no parental loss, parental divorce is associated with lower educational attainment and occupational status, poorer mental health, higher alcohol consumption and higher rates of remarriage. Links with earlier signs of emotional disturbance and current levels of stress are explored.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 22 , Issue 1 , January 1990 , pp. 121 - 135
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

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