Association of Early Parent-Child Separation With Multidomain Implications in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood: A Prospective Cohort Study in China

Authors：Xudong Zhao , Shihong Wang , Yue Yu , Anhui Zhang , Fangbiao Tao , Deyun Liu , Ying Sun

Source：J Adolesc Health. 2023 Jul;73(1):53-60.

DOI:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.02.018

Abstract：Purpose:The aim of the study was to explore the long-term impacts of parent-child separation on a broad set of health and well-being indicators during adolescence and emerging adulthood.

Methods: Participants were from the China Family Panel Studies, a national representative prospective cohort, and 2710 adolescents aged 7-15 years recruited from 25 provinces after an 8-year follow-up were eventually included in this study. We examined the association of prolonged parent-child separation with educational, social, emotional, and health-related outcomes by comparing participants with experience of prolonged parent-child separation and their counterparts staying with parents.

Results: Participants who experienced prolonged parent-child separation in childhood were more likely to have lower educational attainment (odds ratio [OR]: 1.69, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03, 2.76; p = .04), depression (OR: 2.63, 95% CI: 1.28, 5.41; p = .008), marriage or cohabitation (OR: 2.79, 95% CI: 1.40, 5.57; p = .004), and ever-smoke (OR: 3.39, 95% CI: 1.95, 5.91; p < .001). Prolonged parent-child separation was also associated with a 0.64-year loss in educational attainment, 2.99- and 2.39-unit decreases in math and word test score, as well as 2.08 kg/m2decreases in body mass index.

Discussion: This nationally representative study indicates that prevention efforts that reduce exposure to parent-child separation in childhood could substantially reduce the lifetime prevalence of educational, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive problems in the general population.

Keywords: Adolescent; China family panel studies (CFPS); Educational attainment; Multi-domain; Parent-child separation.

摘要：

目的：本研究旨在探讨亲子分离对青少年期和成年期一系列健康和幸福指标的长期影响。

方法：研究对象来自具有全国代表性的前瞻性队列 "中国家庭面板研究"，经过8年的随访，最终从25个省份招募了2710名7-15岁的青少年。我们通过比较亲子长期分离的参与者和与父母在一起的参与者，研究了亲子长期分离与教育、社会、情感和健康相关结果的关系。

结果：童年时期经历过长期亲子分离的参与者更有可能受教育程度较低（几率比 [OR]：1.69，95% 置信区间 [CI]：1. 03，2.76；p = 0.04）、抑郁（OR：2.63，95% 置信区间[CI]：1.28，5.41；p = 0.008）、婚姻或同居（OR：2.79，95% 置信区间[CI]：1.40，5.57；p = 0.004）和曾经吸烟（OR：3.39，95% 置信区间[CI]：1.95，5.91；p < 0.001）。亲子长期分离还与受教育程度下降 0.64 年、数学和单词测试成绩分别下降 2.99 和 2.39 个单位以及体重指数下降 2.08 kg/m² 有关。

讨论：这项具有全国代表性的研究表明，减少儿童时期亲子分离的预防工作可以大大降低普通人群一生中教育、情绪、行为和认知问题的发生率。

关键词青少年；中国家庭面板研究（CFPS）；教育程度；多领域；亲子分离。