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According to a new study released by the American Heart Association, whether or not black men grow up in single family homes can determine their health.

The study, “Childhood Family Living Arrangements & Blood Pressure in Black Men,” took a look at whether childhood family living arrangements are independently associated with mean BP and hypertension in black men. This is the first study to ever link childhood family living arrangements with high blood pressure in Black men.

From AHA.org:

Black men who lived with both parents compared with the reference group of men who never lived with both parents during their lifetime had lower systolic BP (−4.4 mm Hg [95% confidence interval {CI}, −7.84 to −0.96]), pulse pressure (−3.9 mm Hg [95% CI, −6.28 to −1.51]), and mean arterial BP (−2.0 mm Hg [95% CI, −4.44 to 0.51]).

Read more at AHA.org

Researchers analyzed data collected from a sampling of 515 black men. The results of the study provide evidence that childhood family structure has long-term influence on the health and wellness of Black men.

Black men tend to have higher rates of high blood pressure than men of other ethnicities.

Thoughts on the study’s findings?

Does it further highlight the importance of black youth being raised in two-parent homes?

Sound off below!