The Impact on Mental Health of Losing an Only Child and the Influence of Social Support and Resilience

Abstract

The number of parents who have lost their only child (PLOCs) has increased annually with the implementation of the birth control policy in mainland China. This study aimed to investigate the mental health status of PLOCs and the influence of social support and resilience. Study 1 recruited 100 PLOCs and 88 nonbereaved parents, and compared differences in depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Study 2 investigated the influence of social support and resilience on the mental health of PLOCs via a mediating model. Results indicate that PLOCs reported more anxiety and depression symptoms than nonbereaved counterparts. Perceived close family support, objective support, and resilience negatively predicted anxiety and depression. In addition, perceived close family support was found to influence mental health via resilience. The current findings reveal that losing an only child has long-term negative impacts on the mental health of PLOCs. However, perceived close family support and objective support can protect their mental health either directly or indirectly via resilience.

A profile analysis of post-traumatic stress disorder and depressive symptoms among Chinese Shidu parents

“…Different types of social support had different predictive effects on inclusion in a particular profile group. In line with previous findings with other traumatic populations (Dai et al, 2016;Rzeszutek et al, 2017) and following bereavement (Cao et al, 2018;Xu et al, 2017), we found that parents who perceived lower levels of support from family and significant others were more likely to be included in the profile group with higher levels of PTSD and depressive symptoms. According to the theory of social support, the more social support a person has, the better the individual can cope with various challenges from the outside world (Cao et al, 2018;Van Der Houwen et al, 2010).…”

A cross-sectional study on mental health among health care workers during the outbreak of Corona Virus Disease 2019

“…Social support is individuals' perception or experience in terms of being involved in a social group where people mutually support each other (Cao et al, 2018). Family, friends or any other important relatives could provide material and spiritual support, which probe to be positively associated with mental health (Rothon et al, 2012).…”

Grief and Posttraumatic Growth Among Chinese Bereaved Parents Who Lost Their Only Child: The Moderating Role of Interpersonal Loss

“…Therefore, shidu parents are not only afflicted by child loss but also suffer from identity loss and social stigmatization ( Zheng and Lawson, 2015 ). Compared to Chinese parents with a living child or who had given birth again, they had a higher risk of intense grief, depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and chronic diseases ( Xu et al, 2014 ; Zheng et al, 2017 ; Cao et al, 2018 ; Yin et al, 2018 ). Additionally, compared with a prevalence of PGD of about 10% in general bereaved people ( Lundorff et al, 2017 ), the prevalence rate in shidu parents was 35.5% ( Zhou et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Therefore, the loss of the only child often results in interpersonal loss. Additionally, because of Chinese traditional filial piety culture, adult children are the main care providers, giving emotional and financial support to their parents ( Zheng et al, 2017 ; Cao et al, 2018 ). Therefore, losing the only child also leads to economic losses, especially in rural areas ( Liang et al, 2019 ).…”