According to a study conducted by Danish researchers, premature deaths among childless couples are two to four times higher than couples who have children.
Not having a child already comes as a big blow to a couple's metal stability. However, a group of Danish researchers have found that there's more to worry about. Couples who involuntarily don't have children are two to four times more likely to die a premature death than women who are mothers.
The study included over 21,000 cases of couples seeking IVF treatment. The authors pointed out that not have children is only associated with premature deaths and is not the cause of it.
"Mindful that association is not the same thing as causation, our results suggest that the mortality rates are higher in the childless," Science Daily quoted the researchers.
The cases of the 21,000 couples seeking IVF treatment contained data on births, deaths and IVF procedures from 1994 to 2005.
"This is a very specific situation of people who are trying to have children - the study's findings cannot be used to generalise across the whole general population," Ingrid Collins, a consultant psychologist, said. "People having IVF tend to be desperate for a child, if they are unsuccessful they may be depressed- it may even be this rather than childlessness that is playing a part. One can only guess.
"It is complicated and many factors play a part in death rates- people with deep spiritual belief, being married, having a higher social class - these can all help in living longer," she said.
Authors also state that these couples can take psychological help that would help them improve their mental health.
"Being childless without a doubt reduces your fight for life," Dr. Helen Nightingale, a clinical psychologist, said. "If you draw on cancer as an example - the support of a family, the focus on your children - your grandchildren and the desire to watch how they will turn out drives your psychological resistance to survive. You fight for them, people hang on - it shows the power of relationships."
