An investigation of physical and mental health consequences among Chinese parents who lost their only child

Yin, Qianlan; Shang, Zhilei; Zhou, Na; Wu, Lili; Li, Guangyu; Yu, Xiaodan; Zhang, Huaihui; Xue, H C; Liu, Weizhi

doi:10.1186/s12888-018-1621-2

Cited by 65 publications

(68 citation statements)

References 26 publications

(21 reference statements)

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“…Even after 18 years-a longer period of the child's death, Christiansen et al found there still existed PTSD symptoms in the SDPs [10]. Consistently, we found SDPs had a higher risk of the development of PTSD compared to the parents with a living child, and the rate of PTSD in the Shidu group (n = 95) was up to 32.6% in a published research of our team [11]. Regarding the previous studies, the prevalence of PTSD in older people ranged from 4 to 14% following traumatic experiences such as natural disasters, physical injuries, and threat of illness [12][13][14].…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…The questionnaires for physical health outcomes were the same to the previous study [11]. Two items were all included.…”

Section: Measurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C) was adopted to single out bereavement-related PTSD, which were developed by Weathers et al [22]. The Chinese version of the PCL-C has been validated and widely used in studies [11,23]. It requires respondents to indicate the degree to which they have been bothered during the past month by the PTSD symptoms according to the DSM-4th Edition.…”

Section: Measurementioning

confidence: 99%

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Risk factors for PTSD of Shidu parents who lost the only child in a rapid aging process: a cross-sectional study

Yin¹,

Zhang

Shang³

et al. 2020

BMC Psychiatry

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Background: The elderly population is rising globally, especially in China where a large population base causes the largest number of older adults in the world. Notably, Shidu people who are over the age of 60 and have lost their only child have drawn great public attentions as they become more elderly, medically unstable and worse mentally unhealthy. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most common consequences resulted from the loss of the only child. However, few previous studies have examined PTSD in Shidu older aldults, and the risk factors are a relatively understudied area. Our study aims to estimate the prevalence and potential risk factors of PTSD and improve the possibility of early identifying the high-risk Shidu parents with PTSD, and successively provide timely and effective interventions. Method: Based on the register of population statistic information provided by the health family planning commission, 149 participants were enrolled randomly. Data was collected by interviews and questionnaires. Sociodemographic and bereavement-related information and physical health outcomes were obtained. PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version was used to screen for bereavement-related PTSD.Result: The morbidity of PTSD reached 30.9%, while in the group of age over 60 the morbidity reached 31.6%. Stratified by potential demographic risk factors, SDPs have significant between-group differences of PTSD. Specially, being women, higher income, losing the single child at older age, more serious medical conditions and being Shidu for a shorter period indicated higher severity of PTSD in SDPs. The single child dying at a older age and from accidence were also significant indicators. Regression analysis showed the gender of SDPs, hospital visits, and the cause of child death significantly predicted the severity of PTSD. Conclusion:With the accelerate process of aging, especially in China, Shidu older adults become a group deserved more attentions. PTSD is clearly a possible reaction to the loss of the only child. The gender and hospital visits of the Shidu older adults and the causes of their child's death significantly related to the prevalence of PTSD, which could help to improve the possibility of early intervening.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…The questionnaires for physical health outcomes were the same to the previous study [11]. Two items were all included.…”

Section: Measurementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Measurementioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Risk factors for PTSD of Shidu parents who lost the only child in a rapid aging process: a cross-sectional study

Yin¹,

Zhang

Shang³

et al. 2020

BMC Psychiatry

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“…These studies showed that losing only child has adverse effects on mental health, loneliness, happiness and general emotional well-being through investigations using a data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) 2011 baseline data, which was initiated to study the elderly population of China and published in March 2012 with the measures of a 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D Scale) and other self-adopted questionnaires about variables regarding losing children, Individual demographic, socioeconomic and health status A new study in our research team is undertaken to compare SDP (a sample of 95 participant) with their counterparts (97 participants) with a living child by a series of standardized assessments of their physical health and mental health problems such as PTSD and depression 25 . In terms of mental assessments, it adopted the 20-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C).…”

Section: Current Studies Of the Chinese Sdp On The Mental And Physicamentioning

confidence: 99%

Mini Review:The Mental and Physical Consequences of Chinese Shidu Parents

Liu¹

2018

J Mental Health & Clin Psychology

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"Shidu Parents" (SDP) means parents whose only child has passed away or is disabled to perform the basic social function and daily living activities due to an accident or other events. These parents cannot conceive or adopt another child. Bereavement is a great grief and threat to mental and physical states evidenced by many studies, but SDP are a new and increasing subgroup emerging in this field, especially in China. The goal of this paper is to review the research literature regarding mental and physical health consequences of SDP and the intertwined influence, thus to add to the corresponding assistance from the government.

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“…If parents lose their only child in adulthood this may further impact the feeling of loss as bearing another child is not possible. Previous research has demonstrated that Chinese parents who lost their only child present with significant symptoms of anxiety, depression and PTSD as well as significant impairments in physical and social areas compared to non-bereaved counterparts (Cao, Yang, & Wang, 2018; Yin et al, 2018; Zheng, Lawson, & Anderson Head, 2017). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Latent profiles of physical and psychological outcomes of bereaved parents in China who lost their only child

Zhou

Huang

et al. 2018

European Journal of Psychotraumatology

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Background: Along with the implementation of the one-child policy in China, a special group of bereaved parents called ‘shiduer’ (失独者), meaning parents bereaved by the loss of their only child, emerged. Although previous research has examined the physical and psychological health of this population, individual differences in physical and psychological outcomes are still not well understood.Objective: This study aimed to identify heterogenous subgroups of Chinese bereaved parents who lost their only child based on the physical and psychological health of this population as well as the predictive factors of each subgroup.Method: Latent profile analysis was used to explore underlying patterns of physical and psychological indicators including subjective physical health, negative psychological outcomes (i.e. depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and prolonged grief disorder) and positive psychological outcomes (i.e. post-traumatic growth) among a sample of Chinese bereaved parents who lost their only child (N = 536). A three-step approach was used to examine the effects of covariates including quality of spousal relationship and recruitment channels on psychological and physical outcomes.Results: A three-profile model identified severity-based groupings of a ‘resilient’ subgroup (n = 153), a ‘coping’ subgroup (n = 338) and a ‘dysfunctional’ subgroup (n = 45). Less satisfaction with spousal relationship and recruitment from institutions in the community and online self-help groups (vs. offline support groups) are associated with the membership of the ‘coping’ or ‘dysfunctional’ subgroup compared to the ‘resilient’ subgroup.Conclusions: There is heterogeneity regarding the physical and psychological health of Chinese parents after losing their only child. The predictive effects of the quality of spousal relationship and the recruitment channels could provide directions for professional intervention.

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An investigation of physical and mental health consequences among Chinese parents who lost their only child

Cited by 65 publications

References 26 publications

Risk factors for PTSD of Shidu parents who lost the only child in a rapid aging process: a cross-sectional study

Risk factors for PTSD of Shidu parents who lost the only child in a rapid aging process: a cross-sectional study

Mini Review:The Mental and Physical Consequences of Chinese Shidu Parents

Latent profiles of physical and psychological outcomes of bereaved parents in China who lost their only child

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