Parental Physical Illnesses and Their Association with Subsequent Externalizing and Internalizing Symptoms in Children

Abstract Parental physical illnesses can be stressful for children. We estimated the prevalence of children who experience parental illnesses, and whether during childhood were associated with behavioral problems in adolescence. Data on from Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 was collected through questionnaires at ages 8 16 ( n = 7037). illness diagnosed this study period obtained health registers. investigated association between (based International Classification Diseases) children’s age (measured by Youth Self-Report questionnaire). During period, 3887 (55.2%) had a parent least one illness. Associations found problems, most associations maternal males’ externalizing females’ internalizing problems. After adjusting child 8, psychiatric socioeconomic status, multiple testing correction, only male significant. Interestingly, lower A notable proportion illnesses. Although mixed, our findings suggest that impact is complex, may lead to resilience males. This emphasizes needs should taken into account when treating