Parents are 52% less likely to develop colds than non-parents, according to Carnegie Mellon University research. The study exposed 795 healthy adults ages 18-55 to a virus that causes the common cold and found that parents with one or two children were 48% less likely than childless adults to get sick, while parents with three or more children were 61% less likely.
Parenthood only offered protection to adults ages 25 and older; parents ages 18-24 were no less likely than non-parents that age to become ill. However, among those 25 and older, both parents who live with children and those who live separately from their children showed decreased risk of catching the cold.
Source: Carnegie Mellon University, Sheldon Cohen, Lead Author, Psychology Department, 335D Baker Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15213; 412-268-2336; scohen@cmu.edu; www.psy.cmu.edu.
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