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Parental divorce or separation during childhood and adult smoking: a mediation effects of social engagement

ABSTRACT Using the life course paradigm, this study investigates the effects of childhood parental divorce or separation on adult children’s cigarette smoking and social engagement. To understand the mechanisms linking early parental divorce or separation and later cigarette smoke, this current work also examines the mediation effects of social engagement. Data come from the Americans’ Changing Lives survey (N = 2322). Results of linear regression models suggest that early parental divorce or separation is associated with increased cigarette smoking and poor social engagement later in life. Specifically, the results showed that adults who experienced parental divorce/separation during childhood 1.51 times more likely to be current cigarette smokers during adulthood compared with those who did not experience separation/divorce (p < 0.05). Moreover, the relationship between childhood parental divorce or separation and later cigarette smoking is mediated by poor social engagement (e.g. attending meetings and religious services). This study highlights that parental divorce or separation affects later well-being, and social engagement serves as one of the social pathways linking childhood parental divorce or separation to later cigarette smoking.