Table 5

RRs (95% CIs) for poor physical and mental health according to family structure and before and after adjustment for confounders and poverty

Health measures at age 7% (n)uRRaRR[1]aRR[2]aRR[3]
Column AColumn BColumn CColumn DColumn E
Physical health
 General health (poor–bad vs excellent–good), N=12 501
  Natural couple family2.4 (230)––––
  Reconstituted family3.7 (32)1.58 (1.01 to 2.47)*1.52 (0.97 to 2.39)1.34 (0.86 to 2.10)1.17 (0.74 to 1.85)
  Lone parent4.7 (114)2.00 (1.51 to 2.66)*1.74 (1.30 to 2.34)*1.46 (1.08 to 1.97)*1.05 (0.75 to 1.48)
 Long-standing illness (yes), N=12 496
  Natural couple family17.6 (1593)––––
  Reconstituted family23 (182)1.31 (1.13 to 1.51)*1.23 (1.06 to 1.43)*1.22 (1.05 to 1.42)*1.15 (0.99 to 1.34)
  Lone parent23.3 (575)1.33 (1.20 to 1.46)*1.25 (1.13 to 1.39)*1.22 (1.11 to 1.35)*1.06 (0.95 to 1.18)
 Unintentional injury (injured at least once since age 5), N=12 497
  Natural couple family23.4 (2089)––––
  Reconstituted family28.5 (233)1.22 (1.07 to 1.39)*1.13 (0.98 to 1.30)1.11 (0.96 to 1.27)1.08 (0.94 to 1.25)
  Lone parent27.0 (686)1.15 (1.06 to 1.25)*1.11 (1.02 to 1.20)*1.08 (0.99 to 1.18)1.01 (0.92 to 1.12)
 Overweight or obese, N=12 222
  Natural couple family19.4 (1785)––––
  Reconstituted family17.6 (158)0.91 (0.77 to 1.08)0.93 (0.78 to 1.11)0.89 (0.75 to 1.06)0.88 (0.73 to 1.04)
  Lone parent23.3 (579)1.20 (1.08 to 1.34)*1.18 (1.06 to 1.31)*1.11 (1.00 to 1.23)*1.07 (0.96 to 1.20)
 Asthma, N=12 473
  Natural couple family14.8 (1365)––––
  Reconstituted family20.0 (177)1.35 (1.16 to 1.57)*1.18 (1.01 to 1.37)*1.15 (0.98 to 1.34)1.10 (0.94 to 1.29)
  Lone parent19.9 (511)1.35 (1.20 to 1.51)*1.20 (1.06 to 1.36)*1.16 (1.03 to 1.31)*1.07 (0.93 to 1.22)
 Fits, N=12 501
  Natural couple family4.0 (370)––––
  Reconstituted family6.1 (51)1.53 (1.09 to 2.13)*1.31 (0.92 to 1.86)1.29 (0.91 to 1.82)1.21 (0.85 to 1.71)
  Lone parent6.1 (141)1.52 (1.21 to 1.90)*1.36 (1.08 to 1.71)*1.32 (1.06 to 1.66)*1.16 (0.93 to 1.46)
Mental health imputed
 SDQ total score, N=12 221
  Natural couple family10.8 (905)––––
  Reconstituted family24.6 (190)2.28 (1.93 to 2.71)*1.60 (1.35 to 1.90)*1.45 (1.22 to 1.72)*1.34 (1.13 to 1.59)*
  Lone parent21.3 (515)1.97 (1.75 to 2.22)*1.47 (1.29 to 1.67)*1.29 (1.14 to 1.45)*1.05 (0.92 to 1.19)
 Emotional problems, N=12 287
  Natural couple family11.6 (1010)––––
  Reconstituted family17.7 (139)1.52 (1.28 to 1.81)*1.19 (1.00 to 1.42)*1.12 (0.94 to 1.33)1.06 (0.89 to 1.26)
  Lone parent18.3 (460)1.58 (1.42 to 1.75)*1.26 (1.12 to 1.43)*1.16 (1.03 to 1.30)*0.99 (0.87 to 1.13)
 Conduct problems, N=12 312
  Natural couple family17.2 (1488)––––
  Reconstituted family32.4 (254)1.89 (1.65 to 2.16)*1.41 (1.23 to 1.62)*1.30 (1.14 to 1.49)*1.23 (1.07 to 1.41)*
  Lone parent30.1 (732)1.75 (1.61 to 1.92)*1.40 (1.28 to 1.53)*1.26 (1.15 to 1.38)*1.10 (1.00 to 1.21)
 Hyperactivity, N=12 276
  Natural couple family17.1 (1476)––––
  Reconstituted family33.2 (259)1.94 (1.71 to 2.20)*1.52 (1.33 to 1.74)*1.41 (1.24 to 1.61)*1.35 (1.19 to 1.54)*
  Lone parent25.0 (627)1.46 (1.32 to 1.62)*1.23 (1.10 to 1.36)*1.11 (1.00 to 1.24)*0.99 (0.89 to 1.10)
 Peer problems, N=12 292
  Natural couple family14.7 (1322)––––
  Reconstituted family25.8 (194)1.76 (1.48 to 2.08)*1.47 (1.25 to 1.74)*1.35 (1.15 to 1.59)*1.28 (1.09 to 1.51)*
  Lone parent25.8 (629)1.75 (1.56 to 1.96)*1.44 (1.28 to 1.63)*1.29 (1.14 to 1.46)*1.14 (1.01 to 1.29)*
 Pro-social behaviour, N=12 317
  Natural couple family6.0 (515)––––
  Reconstituted family8.1 (58)1.35 (0.99 to 1.84)1.21 (0.88 to 1.67)1.13 (0.82 to 1.56)1.09 (0.79 to 1.50)
  Lone parent8.2 (187)1.36 (1.11 to 1.68)*1.21 (0.99 to 1.48)1.09 (0.90 to 1.33)1.02 (0.82 to 1.26)

  • *p<0.05.

  • [1]. Adjusted for age, sex, malaise and ethnicity.

  • [2]. Adjusted for age, sex, malaise, ethnicity, NS-SEC and maternal education.

  • [3]. Adjusted for age, sex, malaise, ethnicity, NS-SEC, maternal education and poverty score.

  • SDQ, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire.