Those who had just one child, or none at all, were at
increased risk of death from almost all the conditions
studied, perhaps because they were less likely to look after
their health.
Those with larger families also had a higher chance of
suffering from many diseases, perhaps because they struggled
to cope with the stresses of looking after several children.
The research published in the Social Science & Medicine
Journal found that two children was the optimum number, in
terms of parents' health.
The analysis by British and Norwegian researchers
examined the records of Norwegian men and women born over a
33 year period.
It found those who had no children, or just one, had an
increased risk of dying from almost every condition, with a
particularly strong link with alcohol abuse.
Among women, there was a higher likelihood of accidents
and heart and circulatory disease while men more commonly
suffered lung and respiratory problems.
Those with three children had mixed health fortunes, but
parents of two fared best overall.
Those with larger families did almost as badly as those
with none or one child – but for different reasons.
Cervical cancer featured prominently among mothers of
four, while father of large families were more likely to
suffer violence and accidents.
There were some benefits for women with several children,
whose odds of breast cancer were reduced.
Researcher Emily Grundy, of the London School of Hygiene
and Tropical Medicine said: “Four-plus children might have
adverse effects arising from stress, socio-economic
disadvantages and lifestyles, offsetting or even outweighing
social benefits of parenthood”.
