If you think raising a child is stressful enough on its own, you're right. But if it's ever occurred to you that maybe multiple children can make parenting even more tiring, bingo! Science backs up your complaints.
A recent study has found that parents who have at least one son experience faster brain aging compared to those who only have daughters. Yes, seriously. And no, this isn't some meme from some ironic parenting site, but a serious publication from the Journal of Psychiatric Research.
It's not a myth, boys tire you out more than girls.
The study, a collaboration between Columbia University and Charles University in Prague, found a strong correlation between having sons and a decline in cognitive brain function in parents. One of the only “advantages” mentioned about having a son? Lower divorce rates. (If that’s any consolation.)
On the other hand, the parents of boys had a higher risk of mortality and their minds aged faster. Scientists suspect that this is related to the fact that girls are more likely to take care of their parents emotionally and physically as they age. And this, in turn, helps protect against diseases such as dementia.
How was the study done?
The researchers used data from the University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study, which included more than 30,000 parents over the age of 50. Of these, 13,000 had at least one son. The participants underwent tests of memory and cognitive function, such as recalling a list of words or counting backwards by 7.
The result? Those with sons had a faster decline in brain function, especially if they had more than one son. The rate of aging was "modest," but measurable and real.
Why does this happen?
No one knows for sure, but it's thought that girls are more affectionate and provide more emotional support, while boys are not. There are also animal studies that show that the birth and raising of boys takes a worse toll on the mother's body.
Luis Prada, who reported on the study in Vice, summarized it this way:
"Having a son is like signing a sentence for your brain, and the more sons you have, the worse it gets."
Is that a bit excessive? Maybe. But if you've ever had a nervous breakdown from your son's inexhaustible energy, maybe not so much.
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Source: Your Tango
