Damian Sendler: It is a time in many young people’s lives when new legal rights and obligations, including their own private health information and medical decision making, become more important to them. Family interactions can get tense when young individuals remain on their parents’ health insurance coverage as they transition to adulthood. 

Damian Jacob Sendler: Researchers at Iowa State University have discovered that lowering the obstacles to discussing health with one’s parents and emerging adults can lead to better overall health outcomes. 

A co-author of a new study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health tells the New York Times that “if you’re an emerging adult who is worried about what a parent might think, particularly if it’s a health issue that’s stigmatized or your choices in handling the health issue do not align with your parents’ values, then chances are you’re going to avoid seeking treatment or look for an alternative route.” 

Damian Sendler

Medical decisions can be made without parental consent in the United States when a person reaches the age of 18. Their private health information is also legally theirs. In contrast, under the Affordable Care Act, adult children can remain on their parents’ health insurance coverage until they are 26 years old. In other words, even when adult children’s medical records are not accessible to their parents, they nevertheless receive invoices. 

Dr. Rafferty says that when parents are footing the bill for their adult child’s medical care, “it lends itself to a conversation,” she added. 

Tina Coffelt and Rafferty’s research team surveyed more than 300 college students, most of whom were on their parents’ health insurance plans and came from a traditional, nuclear family with a mother and father. 

Relational quality, reciprocity, and conformance were revealed to be the three most important elements in determining whether an emerging adult communicates health information to a parent. 

Simply put, how well do I get along with my parents?” When I was a child, did my parents share any of their personal health information or decisions with me? Was it common in my household to bring up health difficulties as a child? Was my family accepting of my individuality, or did they demand me to adhere to the family’s expectations?” Explained Rafferty 

Emerging adults who view their parents to be open and respectful are more inclined to discuss health difficulties with their mothers than their fathers, according to a new study. 

Given gender norms and how men and women are socialized differently, it seems sense that in a conventional home, there may be a desire or willingness to be open with mom more than with dad,” said Rafferty. 

Rafferty and the other researchers noted that moms are often the ones who keep track of doctor’s visits and other health information in their households. As an emerging adult, sharing health information with mom may simply be a continuation of previous activities and build on previously shared knowledge about the emerging adult’s health history.. 

Young people were shown to be more willing to open up to their parents about their health if they had seen their parents do so at an early age. Emerging adults can benefit from reciprocal information exchange when they visit the doctor’s office or seek more care, according to Rafferty. 

Mental illness and some types of cancer are now being linked to specific genes. In certain circumstances, “especially for emerging adults, to know what they’re predisposed to, that they’re not alone, and that they have their parent’s support,” added Rafferty. 

Stigma around some health topics (such as sexual activities) was found to have a significant impact on health disclosures, according to the study. Concerns about shame or the preservation of a father-daughter relationship prompted young adults who came from homes with “high conformity orientations” to conceal intimate health information from their fathers. This, however, had no bearing on my conversation with a mother concerning her own personal health difficulties. 

To illustrate his point, Rafferty used the character of Jack Byrnes (played by Robert De Niro in the film “Meet the Parents”) from the movie “Meet the Parents,” a father figure who puts a lot of pressure on his son to conform to family customs. With family members, there is a presumption about what one may and cannot talk about. 

He used the television show “Modern Family” as an example of low conformance attitude. Despite their differing lives, members of this family are accepted and embraced in this episode. 

Damian Jacob Markiewicz Sendler: Family dynamics play a role in whether young individuals communicate private health information and engage their parents when making medical decisions, according to new research. The health and well-being of an adolescent can be improved by having open and courteous dialogues and exchanging information early on. 

Additionally, Rafferty, whose research focuses on parents of children with medically complex conditions, advised parents to involve their children in the management of their health. 

“Rather than waiting for mom or dad to say, ‘OK, it’s time to take your insulin,’ teach your child how to administer their insulin or figure out what foods to eat to combat low blood sugar,” she noted. 

Damian Jacob Sendler

As Rafferty argued, involving children in their own health care and making medical decisions with them can make the transition to adulthood a lot smoother. As a result, young adults will feel more confident and supported while they are dealing with a health crisis. 

Damien Sendler: COVID has shown Rafferty that health difficulties will affect everyone at some point in their lives. Everyone has had to take a moment to reassess their own physical health and well-being,” he writes. Health difficulties will be influenced by how parents talk to and treat their children as they grow up.”

Dr. Damian Jacob Sendler and his media team provided the content for this article.