The long reach of childhood. Childhood experiences influence close relationships and loneliness across life

Merz, Eva-Maria; Jak, Suzanne

doi:10.1016/j.alcr.2013.05.002

Cited by 56 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 42 publications

(37 reference statements)

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“…The scales measuring childhood experiences, support from adult children and siblings, and current family ties were designed for the NKPS by the scientific team. They all show high validity, good reliabilities and have been widely used in family research (Merz and Jak 2013; Merz, Schuengel and Schulze 2008; Merz et al 2009).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Childhood memories, family ties, sibling support and loneliness in ever-widowed older adults: quantitative and qualitative results

Merz

Gierveld

2014

Ageing and Society

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Widowhood, family relationships and loneliness 1 Childhood memories, family ties, sibling support and loneliness in ever-widowed older adults: Quantitative and qualitative results AbstractFamily relationships play a major role in individuals' lives and can be a source of comfort, support, and protection during the entire life course. Particularly in the context of life events, such as widowhood, family relationships may be salient for (older) adults in coping with feelings of grief, loss and loneliness. Using Dutch survey data and 18 in-depth interviews from a subsample, this study examines the role of family relationships through the lifespan in reducing loneliness among ever-widowed older adults (i.e. persons who have at some time during their life experienced the death of a spouse). Particular attention was paid to childhood memories, family ties, and support from siblings. Quantitative analyses examined associations between loneliness and childhood experiences of relationships with parents, family ties, and sibling support.Qualitative data elucidated how ever-widowed adults recall relations with parents and siblings and experience current family relations. Quantitative and qualitative data showed that emotional support from siblings reduced loneliness. Additionally, positive memories of childhood relationships and current family ties were negatively related to loneliness. In times of everincreasing longevity, work detailing how family relationships across the life course are supportive in alleviating loneliness is a key issue on the social research and policy agenda.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Childhood memories, family ties, sibling support and loneliness in ever-widowed older adults: quantitative and qualitative results

Merz

Gierveld

2014

Ageing and Society

Self Cite

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“…Other sociodemographic factors have been suggested to be risk factors for loneliness, such as being single and/or living alone [8, 25, 27], low educational or low-income levels [16, 28, 29], immigration status, especially immigration in women [30], as well as low social support [31]. In contrast, the fact of living in an urban or rural area as associated with loneliness has yielded contradictory results [16, 28, 32].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Loneliness is adversely associated with physical and mental health and lifestyle factors: Results from a Swiss national survey

et al. 2017

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IntroductionLoneliness is a common, emotionally distressing experience and is associated with adverse physical and mental health and an unhealthy lifestyle. Nevertheless, little is known about the prevalence of loneliness in different age groups in Switzerland. Furthermore, the existing evidence about age and gender as potential effect modifiers of the associations between loneliness, physical and mental health and lifestyle characteristics warrants further investigation. Thus, the aim of the study was to examine the prevalence of loneliness among adults in Switzerland and to assess the associations of loneliness with several physical and mental health and behavioral factors, as well as to assess the modifying effect of sex and age.MethodsData from 20,007 participants of the cross-sectional population-based Swiss Health Survey 2012 (SHS) were analyzed. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess associations of loneliness with physical and mental health or lifestyle characteristics (e.g. diabetes, depression, physical activity). Wald tests were used to test for interactions.ResultsLoneliness was distributed in a slight U-shaped form from 15 to 75+ year olds, with 64.1% of participants who had never felt lonely. Lonely individuals were more often affected by physical and mental health problems, such as self-reported chronic diseases (Odds ratio [OR] 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.30–1.54), high cholesterol levels (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.18–1.45), diabetes (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.16–1.67), moderate and high psychological distress (OR 3.74, 95% CI 3.37–4.16), depression (OR 2.78, 95% CI 2.22–3.48) and impaired self-perceived health (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.74–2.16). Loneliness was significantly associated with most lifestyle factors (e.g. smoking; OR 1.13, 95% 1.05–1.23). Age, but not sex, moderated loneliness’ association with several variables.ConclusionLoneliness is associated with poorer physical and mental health and unhealthy lifestyle, modified by age, but not by sex. Our findings illustrate the importance of considering loneliness for physical and mental health and lifestyle factors, not only in older and younger, but also in middle-aged adults. Longitudinal studies are needed in Switzerland to elucidate the causal relationships of these associations.

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“…For instance, children who experience adverse family relationships are more likely to develop behavior that may trigger conflict in interpersonal relationships [2]. Studies have shown that favorable family relationships in childhood were connected with better social relations in adulthood, in terms of more satisfaction with partner relationships, stronger family relations, and a lower risk of experiencing loneliness [15]. Conversely, dysfunctional family relationships in childhood were associated with poorer social relationships in adulthood [15,16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies have shown that favorable family relationships in childhood were connected with better social relations in adulthood, in terms of more satisfaction with partner relationships, stronger family relations, and a lower risk of experiencing loneliness [15]. Conversely, dysfunctional family relationships in childhood were associated with poorer social relationships in adulthood [15,16]. There is a well-established link between supportive social relationships and better health [17] and even survival [18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Poor Family Relationships in Adolescence and the Risk of Premature Death: Findings from the Stockholm Birth Cohort Study

Alm

Låftman

Bohman

2019

IJERPH

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Poor family relationships during childhood have been shown to have long-term negative effects on an offspring’s health. However, few studies have followed the offspring to retirement age, and relatedly, knowledge about the link between poor family relationships and premature death is scarce. The aim of this study was to examine the association between poor family relationships in adolescence and the risk of premature death, even when considering other adverse childhood conditions. Prospective data from the Stockholm Birth Cohort study were used, with 2636 individuals born in 1953 who were followed up until age 65. Information on family relations was based on interviews with the participants’ mothers in 1968. Information on mortality was retrieved from administrative register data from 1969–2018. Cox proportional hazards regressions showed that poor family relationships in adolescence were associated with an increased risk of premature death, even when adjusting for childhood conditions in terms of household social class, household economic poverty, contact with the child services, parental alcohol abuse, and parental mental illness (Hazard Ratio (HR), 2.08, 95% Confidence Interval (CI), 1.40–3.09). The findings show that poor family relationships in adolescence can have severe and long-lasting health consequences, highlighting the importance of early interventions.

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The long reach of childhood. Childhood experiences influence close relationships and loneliness across life

Cited by 56 publications

References 42 publications

Childhood memories, family ties, sibling support and loneliness in ever-widowed older adults: quantitative and qualitative results

Childhood memories, family ties, sibling support and loneliness in ever-widowed older adults: quantitative and qualitative results

Loneliness is adversely associated with physical and mental health and lifestyle factors: Results from a Swiss national survey

Poor Family Relationships in Adolescence and the Risk of Premature Death: Findings from the Stockholm Birth Cohort Study

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