Although they are less common than single moms, there are also single dads, who take care of their home and their children’s education. And these, s to a study by the Institute for Clinical Evaluation Services at the University of Toronto, Canada, their mortality is 3 times higher than that of mothers who care for their children alone.
The study compared more than 40 thousand people, including 871 single parents, against 4,590 single mothers, 16, 341 parents with partners and 18,688 mothers with partners, all between 41 and 46 years old, approximately.
Participants were asked to answer a survey related to lifestyle, diet and economic status, in addition to analyzing their health record. During the study’s follow-up, which lasted approximately 11 years, 693 of the people who participated died, and the majority were single parents.
At the start of the study, single dads were identified as having a higher propensity for cancer and heart disease.
This is because they have a less healthy lifestyle: they ate less fruits and vegetables and were more adept at drinking alcohol.
Dr. Matthew Lorber, a psychiatrist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, believes that these results reflect that women bring to marriage healthier behavior, both in their partner and their children. “The maternal instinct of women is not only for children, they also take care of their partners,” said the specialist.
Lorber also has a theory that single dads are less likely to seek help or social support for the well-being of the family, just as single moms do.
Another aspect that can influence the health of single parents is that many choose not to seek a partner again in widowhood since a significant number of single parents are widowers.
So, single dads, take care of yourself with good habits!