Having more than two children can age parents by an extra 6.2 YEARS

Three’s a crowd! Having more than two children can age parents by an additional 6.2 YEARS, study warns

  • Scientists analysed people aged 65+ with at least two biological children
  • The findings suggest that people with more than two children age faster
  • While the reason for the findings remains unclear, researchers suggest the stress and financial burden of an additional child could speed up ageing 

While many people dream of having a large family, a new study may put you off having more than two children.

Researchers from Columbia University have revealed that having three or more children can add a whopping 6.2 years of ageing to parents.

The reason for the findings remain unclear, although the researchers suggest that the stress and financial burden of having additional children could speed up the ageing process.  

Researchers from Columbia University have revealed that having three or more children can add a whopping 6.2 years of ageing to parents (stock image)

Why does having additional children increase ageing? 

While the reason for the findings remains unclear, the researchers have several theories.

Having an additional child can incur large financial costs, reducing family income and increasing the likelihood of falling below the poverty line.

This decrease in the standard of living could contribute to cognitive decline, according to the team.

The stress of having additional children may also play a part, with less time to relax and invest in cognitively stimulating activities.

Until now, little research has focused on whether fertility influences cognition in parents.

‘Understanding the factors that contribute to optimal late-life cognition is essential for ensuring successful aging at the individual and societal levels – particularly in Europe, where family sizes have shrunk and populations are aging rapidly,’ said Dr Vegard Skirbekk, an author of the study.

In the study, the team analysed data from the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE).

This database includes survey results from thousands of people aged 65+ with at least two biological children across 20 European countries and Israel.

Their analysis revealed that people with three or more children have worse cognition in later life.

‘The negative effect of having three or more children on cognitive functioning is not negligible, it is equivalent to 6.2 years of aging,’ said Dr Eric Bonsang, professor of economics at the University Paris-Dauphine, an author of the study.

This was the case for both men and women, according to the researchers.

While the reason for the findings remains unclear, the researchers have several theories.

Having an additional child can incur large financial costs, reducing family income and increasing the likelihood of falling below the poverty line.

This decrease in the standard of living could contribute to cognitive decline, according to the team.

The stress of having additional children may also play a part, with less time to relax and invest in cognitively stimulating activities.

Having an additional child can incur large financial costs, reducing family income and increasing the likelihood of falling below the poverty line (stock image)

‘For individuals, late life cognitive health is essential for maintaining independence and being socially active and productive in late life,’ Dr Bonsang said.

‘For societies, ensuring the cognitive health of the older population is essential for extending work lives and reducing health care costs and care needs.’

The researchers say that decreasing the proportion of Europeans with three or more children could have positive implications for the cognitive health of the older population.

‘Given the magnitude of the effect, future studies on late-life cognition should also examine fertility as a prognosticator alongside more commonly researched predictors, such as education, occupational experiences, physical exercise, and mental and physical health,’ Professor Skirbekk added.

‘In addition, future studies should address the potential effects of childlessness or having one child on late-life cognition.

‘We also need more information on the types of interactions, supports, and conflicts that occur between parents and children, which may influence cognitive outcomes.’

Always look on the bright side of life! Optimistic people live longer, study claims 

While staying optimistic can be tricky during these uncertain times, it could actually help you to live longer, according to a new study.

Researchers from Boston University have found that optimistic people live longer, healthier lives than pessimists, and say it’s because they have fewer stressful events to deal with.

‘Stress is known to have a negative impact on our health,’ explained Dr Lewina Lee, who led the study.

‘By looking at whether optimistic people handle day-to-day stressors differently, our findings add to knowledge about how optimism may promote good health as people age.’

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