Having children can have a positive effect on the health of parents: they are less likely to get colds than childless people. This conclusion was made by scientists from Carnegie Mellon University (USA) after conducting a study in which 795 people aged 18 to 55 took part.
According to the study, parents are 52% less likely to catch a cold than people without children. In addition, the more children in the family, the stronger this effect: the reduction in the risk of catching a cold is 48% with 1-2 children and 61% with three or more children.
Scientists note that the reason for this reduction in risk is not related to immunity, but rather to a psychological aspect. Parents and childless people in the study were little different physiologically, suggesting that success in fighting a cold is related to psychological well-being.
In addition, other scientists have previously proven the connection between communication with a child and the state of a single mother. Playing with children reduced stress levels in a working mother, protecting her from depression and burnout at work.
Thus, having children may be beneficial for the health of parents. However, as scientists note, caring for children can also be a source of stress, so it is important to find a balance between caring for family and personal time and taking care of your health.