Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have found that parenthood is associated with a longer life than childlessness.

The study was published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.

At the age of 60, the impact on projected life expectancy of having a child/children was almost two extra years for men, and 1.5 extra years for women.

The study included all men (704,481) and women (725,290) with a birth date between 1911 and 1925 and living in Sweden, using national registry data. The study also gathered registry data on marital status and the number and sex of any children they had.

The association was not affected by the sex of the child/children, as has been suggested by previous research. The association seemed to be stronger among those who weren’t married – at least among the men. Since it’s an observational study, no firm conclusions about cause and effect can be drawn.

First author is Karin Modig, Assistant professor at the institute of environmental medicine, Karolinska Institutet.