Childhood family breakups ‘affects girls’ health worse than boys’

A childhood family breakup can have long-term negative consequences for children, with girls affected more seriously than boys as a rule.

This is according to a new study from the University of Illinois, which examined overall health, depression and smoking as a health-related behaviour among 90,000 adolescents before comparing the results to family circumstances.

Early father absence was shown to be adversely associated with smoking, overall health and depression well into adulthood, with family structures having a more complex role in girls' mental rather than physical health.

If the biological father was never present, all of these factors worsened. Moreover, if they left when girls were aged up to five years old, a significant association with worse physical health was also found, regardless of the presence of other males.

Andrea Beller, a University of Illinois economist who studies educational attainment and the effects of single-parent family living, said: "If you grow up in a non-traditional family structure – single parent or stepparent or a cohabiting relationship – girls are more likely than boys to be depressed and report worse overall health."

It was suggested that public health policy should be amended to incorporate family background as a contributory factor.