Abstract
BackgroundThe death of a young child is so devastating that it can increase the risk of mortality in the grieving parent. Little is known about the impact of an adult...
Highlights
In economically advanced societies, the death of parents precedes the death of children in the normative life cycle
Most empirical research linking the death of a child to the health of parents suggests adverse health effects
Studies have found that the death of a young child increases parental mortality from all causes,[2] as well as the risk of depressive symptoms,[10] certain types of cancer,[11] myocardial infarction,[12] poor self-rated health,[13] diabetes[14] and suicide.[15]
Summary
The death of parents precedes the death of children in the normative life cycle. Most empirical research linking the death of a child to the health of parents suggests adverse health effects. Studies have found that the death of a young child increases parental mortality from all causes,[2] as well as the risk of depressive symptoms,[10] certain types of cancer,[11] myocardial infarction,[12] poor self-rated health,[13] diabetes[14] and suicide.[15] Yet, some analyses have found no increase in risk in parents with regard to general health status,[16] cancer morbidity[17] or stroke.[18] Studies have examined the duration of bereavement. Some research that has examined longer term consequences following child deaths has found that grief persists for the remainder of the parent’s life,19e21 while others show evidence for shorter term consequences.22e24. The death of a young child is so devastating that it can increase the risk of mortality in the grieving parent. Little is known about the impact of an adult child’s death on the health of parents
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