Association of Parental Separation and Her Child’s Mental Disturbances and Substance Use in Adulthood

• Main Authors: Yung-Chen Ko, 柯咏辰
• Other Authors: Angela Pei-Chen Fan
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2017
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/68782243739228557642

碩士 === 國立陽明大學 === 國際衛生碩士學位學程 === 105 === Background: There are few prospective cohort studies on childhood parental loss and mental disturbances and substance use in adulthood. Poor childhood family conditions have a long-term effect on adult mental health. Research studies are showing that parental loss during childhood or adolescence can and often does lead to mental illness during childhood and into adulthood. This study investigates the linkage between individual’s maternal death age and parent marital status in childhood and the risk of mental disturbance and substance use in adulthood. Methods: A national cohort born in Baltimore, Maryland, US during 1960-1964 (NCPP) was followed with The Johns Hopkins Pathway Study during 1992-1994 (n=1758). Adult mental conditions were measured GHQ and designed questionnaires. Multiple regression models were performed to estimate if any specific group age of maternal death or parent marital status is related to mental disturbance or substance use later in life. Models were adjusted for the children’s gender, race, and education status of the mothers. Results: Children who experienced mother’s death at group age 0-6 are more likely to have higher rates of mental disturbances than those whose mother has not died (p<0.05). Maternal death at age 26-31 is a risk factor highly associated with alcoholism. (OR:2.30 95%CI: 1.03-5.15 p-value<0.05) Children of single mother are most likely to develop mental disturbances comparing to separated mother and currently married couple. Risks of developing mental disturbance increased after adding the effects of perinatal complications. Female has worse mental outcomes but better in substance use than male and African Americans have better outcomes in every aspect than other ethnic groups. African Americans are more likely to be associated with never married households compared to other ethnicities. Conclusion: This study indicates children who experience maternal death at early adulthood have higher tendency to develop mental disturbances and perinatal complications have additional risks. Babies born with large gestational age are the highest risk population of having mental disturbances among all perinatal risk factors