A happy home as a child is a key factor in deciding heart health in adulthood, according to Finnish researchers.
Described as "psychosocial advantages" by the researchers, they gave children a 14% improved chance of having a healthy weight as an adult and a 12% improved chance of being a non-smoker.
The Finnish researchers said many of the advantages reflected choices parents could make.
The study involved more than 3,500 children and researchers measured six factors in their childhood, including emotional stability, the parents’ health behaviour, stressful events, social adjustment and socio-economic status.
They also included "self-regulation" of behaviour problems – the ability to control impulses and aggression.
The findings were reported in the journal Circulation last night.
Researcher Dr Laura Pulkki-Råback, of the University of Helsinki, Finland, said: “The choices parents make have a long-lasting effect on their children’s future health, and improvement in any one thing can have measurable benefits.
“For instance, if an unemployed parent gets steady employment, the effect may be huge. If he or she also quits smoking, the benefit is even greater. All efforts to improve family well-being are beneficial.”
She added: “Scientific evidence supports the fact that investing in the well-being of children and families will be cost effective in the long run because it decreases healthcare costs at the other end of life."
Pulkki-Råback et al; Psychosocial factors and ideal cardiovascular health Circulation 12 January 2015; doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.113.007104
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