The effects of family position and status on health

In the last couple of decades there has been a considerable amount of research, mainly in the U.S.A., on the effects of family position on health. This paper reviews material on (a) the impact of family of origin on health and (b) adult family position and health. Parental divorce is shown to be related to a range of adverse outcomes in childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Marriage and parenthood are associated with longevity and good mental and physical health. This paper argues for more research in other cultural settings, for panel studies, for more direct measures of the roles and processes often inferred from structural variables, and for the use of measures of physical development and functioning.