Zurich Study Reveals Early Childhood Care Deprivation Slashing Life Expectancy by Twelve Years

New Zurich research shows that lack of affection in early childhood institutions increases mortality risk by 48 percent, rivaling the health impact of smoking.

By: AXL Media

Published: May 1, 2026, 6:26 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from EurekAlert!

The Fatal Consequences of Psychosocial Deprivation in Infancy

A groundbreaking population based study has uncovered a staggering link between early institutional care and premature death. Researchers from the University of Zurich and the Marie Meierhofer Institute for the Child found that children placed in infant care facilities in the late 1950s suffered from extreme emotional isolation. While these children received adequate physical and medical attention, they were largely kept in cribs with less than one hour of daily interaction with caregivers. According to psychologist Patricia Lannen, the resulting psychosocial deprivation is so harmful that it shortens life expectancy on a scale comparable to heavy smoking.

Tracking Sixty Years of Mortality Data in Switzerland

The investigative team analyzed the life trajectories of 431 individuals who lived in Zurich care institutions between 1958 and 1961. This group was compared against 399 peers from the same region who grew up within their own families. Over a 60 year observation period, the findings were stark, as those from the institutionalized group exhibited a 48 percent higher risk of death. On average, their lives were cut short by 12 years compared to the control group. Furthermore, deaths occurring before the age of 40 were twice as common among those who experienced early childhood placement.

The Developmental Link Between Affection and Stress Regulation

The research highlights how vital early affection and environmental stimulation are for the long term development of self regulation. These early experiences shape how a person manages emotions and stress throughout their adult life. Lannen explains that the absence of these social foundations often leads to a higher prevalence of risky and health harming behaviors later in life, which directly contributes to increased mortality rates. Because most infants in the study were institutionalized shortly after birth and had normal birth weights, the researchers were able to rule out detrimental influences occurring prior to their placement.