7.1. Main findings

The offspring of single-parent families are mostly in as good a somatic health as the offspring of two-parent families. The risk of accidental injuries and poisoning was, however, significantly increased among both female and male offspring of single-parent families. Females from single-parent families also had abortions, pregnancies and pregnancy related complications more frequently than other females.

Mortality among males (from 16 to 28 years of age) with single-parent family background was significantly increased compared to other males. The risk of committing suicide was particularly high. Among females any significant differences in mortality was not found, partly due to the small number of deaths during the follow-up time among females.

The risk of criminal offending, violent offences and recidivism in particular, was significantly increased among males who were born to single-mother families. Non-violent crimes were associated only with parental divorce or death among males. The trend of an increased risk of criminality was also seen among females from single-parent families.

The results of this thesis suggest that growing up in a single-parent family is a potentially powerful predictor of adult alcohol-related problems, i.e. early-onset, late-onset and recidive drunk driving among males. Among females with single-parent family background the increased risk of drunk driving was also present.

Single-parent family environments (and factors related to them) experienced in childhood appear to have some negative effects to the well-being of the offspring. However, a single-parent family background may be a stressor that, in the larger scheme of things, has only minor effects on most of the offspring of such families.