Longitudinal Effects of Parental Bereavement on Adolescent Developmental Competence

Abstract

Objective To assess the impact of sudden parental bereavement on subsequent attainment of developmental competencies. Method This longitudinal study reports on 126 youth bereaved by sudden parental death (suicide, accident, or natural death) and 116 demographically similar non-bereaved controls assessed at 9, 21, 33, and 62 months after parental death, and at comparable times in controls. Half were female and 84.7% Caucasian. Youths and care-giving parents were assessed on psychiatric disorders, psychological characteristics, and contextual variables antecedent and subsequent to bereavement. At month 62, at which time youth on average aged 18.4 years (SD=3.1), participants were assessed on developmental competence using an adaptation of the Status Questionnaire; peer attachment using the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment; and educational aspirations using the Future Expectations Scale. The bereaved and non-bereaved groups were compared using univariate and multivariate statistics, including path analyses. Results On univariate analyses, bereaved youth had more difficulties at work, less well-elaborated plans for career development, lower peer attachment, and diminished educational aspirations. The effects of bereavement were most commonly mediated via its effects on offspring and caregiver functioning and family climate, even after adjusting for the impact of pre-death characteristics. Outcomes were unrelated to age at the time of parental death, gender of the deceased parent, or cause of death. Conclusions Children who lost a parent to sudden death evidenced lower competence in work, peer relations, career planning, and educational aspirations, primarily mediated by the impact of bereavement on child and parental functioning and on family climate.

Children’s perspectives on life and well-being after parental intimate partner homicide

“…A growing body of evidence shows that these types of decisions and context factors surrounding a traumatic loss have a substantial influence on eventual mental health and well-being outcomes (e.g. Brent, Melhem, Masten, Porta, & Payne, 2012; Christ et al, 2002). However, the required participation of children in decision making in the context of domestic violence is lagging behind.…”

Parental Death During Childhood and Subsequent School Performance

“…Recently, bereaved children have been shown to have lower educational aspirations, more difficulties at work, and fewer plans for career development. 17 The majority of previous studies have focused on fathers' death, and few studies have analyzed a potentially different impact of paternal versus maternal loss. 15,16 The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between parental death during childhood (ie, before age 15 years) and school performance in the final compulsory school year at age 15 to 16 years, and the potential contribution of childhood socioeconomic and psychosocial factors.…”

Psychopathological Risk in Parentally Bereaved Adolescents

“…Losing a parent during childhood is an experience that has potentially traumatic consequences for a child's psychological functioning over time (Brent et al, 2012). Several studies have stated that adolescence can be considered a complex period in the life of an individual and that adolescents who have lost a parent may experience several psychological difficulties (Stroebe et al, 2012).…”

“…Losing a parent during childhood is an experience that might have long-term traumatic consequences (Cerel, Fristad, Verducci, Weller, & Weller, 2006;Brent, Melhem, Masten, Porta, & Payne, 2012). The international literature based on the theoretical framework of developmental http: //dx.doi.org/10.15405/epsbs.2016.07.02.29 eISSN: 2357-1330 responsibility of the Conference Organization Committee 296 psychopathology recounts several difficulties in children and adolescents who have lost a parent (Dopp, & Cain, 2012).…”