Abstract
Background: Previous studies have found that people who have lost a parent to external causes of death during childhood and adolescence have increased risks of psychosocial sequelae. However, we lack information on the potential co-occurrence of these problems. This study aims to investigate the co-occurrence of psychiatric disorders, deliberate self-harm (DSH) hospitalization, and high school non-completion in people who have lost a parent to external causes of death during childhood and adolescence compared to people who have not experienced such loss. Methods: The study cohort comprised 655 477 individuals born 1970-2012 with a link to both parents. Data on psychiatric disorders, DSH hospitalization, high school completion and parental death were retrieved from four longitudinal Norwegian registers. Chi-square tests of independence investigated potential differences in co-occurrence between bereaved and non-bereaved people. Results: Altogether, 4756 people had experienced the death of a parent due to external causes of death before their 18th birthday. These bereaved offspring had a significantly higher likelihood of having one, two and three adverse outcomes compared to people who had not experienced such loss. Specifically, bereaved offspring had a significantly higher co-occurrence of psychiatric disorders and high school non-completion, but not significantly higher co-occurrences of DSH hospitalization and high school non-completion or DSH hospitalization and psychiatric disorders. Limitations: Information concerning DSH hospitalization and psychiatric disorders was only available from 2008 onwards Conclusions: The significantly higher co-occurrence in bereaved offspring suggests that the relatively small group of people suffering from extensive sequelae should be particularly targeted for postvention measures.
Highlights
In the last few decades, studies based on national registers and selfreports have all reported extensive and long-lasting sequelae in children and adolescents who have experienced the death of a parent (Brent et al 2009, Wilcox et al 2010)
The present study aims to investigate the co-occurrence of psychi atric disorders, deliberate self-harm hospitalization, and high school non-completion in people who have lost a parent to external causes of death during childhood and adolescence compared to people who have not experienced such loss
Being the first study to investigate psychosocial sequelae following parental death in combination, our results indicate that bereaved offspring have a significantly higher likelihood of developing one, but two and three co-occurring adverse outcomes compared to nonbereaved peers
Summary
In the last few decades, studies based on national registers and selfreports have all reported extensive and long-lasting sequelae in children and adolescents who have experienced the death of a parent (Brent et al 2009, Wilcox et al 2010). The present study aims to investigate the co-occurrence of psychi atric disorders, deliberate self-harm hospitalization, and high school non-completion in people who have lost a parent to external causes of death during childhood and adolescence compared to people who have not experienced such loss. This study aims to investigate the co-occurrence of psychiatric dis orders, deliberate self-harm (DSH) hospitalization, and high school non-completion in people who have lost a parent to external causes of death during childhood and adolescence compared to people who have not expe rienced such loss. Results: : Altogether, 4756 people had experienced the death of a parent due to external causes of death before their 18th birthday These bereaved offspring had a significantly higher likelihood of having one, two and three adverse outcomes compared to people who had not experienced such loss. Limitations: : Information concerning DSH hospitalization and psychiatric disorders was only available from 2008 onwards Conclusions: : The significantly higher co-occurrence in bereaved offspring suggests that the relatively small group of people suffering from extensive sequelae should be targeted for postvention measures
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