Black Deaths Matter: Race, Relationship Loss, and Effects on Survivors

Abstract

Close relationships are a resource for mental and physical health that, like other social resources, is unequally distributed in the population. This article focuses on racial disparities in the loss of relationships across the life course. Racial disparities in life expectancy in the United States mean that black Americans experience the deaths of more friends and family members than do white Americans from childhood through later life. I argue that these losses are a unique type of stress and adversity that, through interconnected biopsychosocial pathways, contribute to disadvantage in health over the life course. I focus particularly on how the interconnected pathways associated with loss undermine opportunities for and increase risks to social ties throughout life, adding to disadvantage in health. I call on social scientists and policy makers to draw greater attention to this unique source of disadvantage for black children, adults, and families.

Family Matters: Research on Family Ties and Health, 2010 to 2020

“…Family separation due to military deployments has also been negatively linked to child health (Paley, Lester, & Mogil, ). Notably, race, ethnicity, and social class are associated with the risk of parental loss through death (Umberson, ), incarceration (Wakefield & Uggen, ), and immigration policies (Landale et al, ). Given the clear importance of family stability for children, future research should identify the mechanisms through which family separation and loss affect child health, sources of resilience, and later health into and throughout adulthood.…”

Moving Health Education and Behavior Upstream: Lessons From COVID-19 for Addressing Structural Drivers of Health Inequities

“…Viewed within a life course perspective, the consequences of COVID-19 health inequities have long-term negative implications for families and social networks within communities of color and low-income communities. The concept of "linked lives," a hallmark of the life course perspective, underscores how the loss of significant others undermines opportunities for physical and mental health and increases social and economic risks that add to health disadvantages (Umberson, 2017). These immense relationship losses exact a heavy emotional toll and burden of grief and trauma.…”

“…These immense relationship losses exact a heavy emotional toll and burden of grief and trauma. Children and youth are especially vulnerable to the negative impacts of relationship losses on socioemotional development, their health, and educational trajectories (Umberson, 2017), as well as being at risk of experiencing complicated and compounded grief. Losses of parents, children, other family and social network members due to premature mortality affect the health and well-being of survivors through multiple, interrelated biological, behavioral, psychological, and social pathways (Umberson, 2017).…”

“…Children and youth are especially vulnerable to the negative impacts of relationship losses on socioemotional development, their health, and educational trajectories (Umberson, 2017), as well as being at risk of experiencing complicated and compounded grief. Losses of parents, children, other family and social network members due to premature mortality affect the health and well-being of survivors through multiple, interrelated biological, behavioral, psychological, and social pathways (Umberson, 2017). This is exacerbated even further during the COVID-19 quarantine, which, for example, does not allow for family and friends of those seriously ill or deceased to come together to support each other or grieve.…”

Recent Parental Death and Relationship Qualities Between Midlife Adults and Their Grown Children

“…Furthermore, the negative effects of parental death on individuals' subjective well‐being tend to mitigate over time (Leopold & Lechner, ). Studies also show that grief experiences may be qualitatively different across racial and ethnic groups, including the chance of experiencing family death at an earlier age (Laurie & Neimeyer, ; Umberson, ).…”