Mortality in parents following the death of a child: a nationwide follow-up study from Sweden
- 1 November 2011
- journal article
- research article
- Published by BMJ in Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
- Vol. 66 (10), 927-933
- https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2011-200339
Abstract
Background 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. Methods The authors conducted a follow-up study between 1980 and 2002 based on a linked-registers database that contains the total Swedish population. The authors examined mortality from all causes, natural causes and unnatural causes among parents following the death of children aged 10–49 years. Results An increased mortality risk (RR 1.31, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.68) in mothers following the death of a minor child (10–17 years) was found and especially following unnatural deaths (primarily accidents and suicides). Mothers also experienced elevated mortality following the death of an adult child aged 18–25 years (RR 1.15, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.29). Bereavement effects among fathers were more attenuated and chiefly found after >8 years of follow-up. From a short-term perspective (1–3 years), the death of an adult child (>25 years) was somewhat protective for parents. However, over longer follow-up periods, it approached (4–8 years) and exceeded (>8 years) the death risk of the general population. Conclusions These findings corroborate and extend earlier findings suggesting elevated mortality risks also following the death of an adult child.Keywords
This publication has 36 references indexed in Scilit:
- Transient apical ballooning syndrome — clinical characteristics, ballooning pattern, and long-term follow-up in a Swiss populationInternational Journal of Cardiology, 2009
- Family Members' Perceived Needs for Bereavement Follow-UpJournal of Pain and Symptom Management, 2008
- Death of Parents and Adult Psychological and Physical Well-BeingJournal of Family Issues, 2007
- Aggression and guilt during mourning by parents who lost an infantBulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 2004
- Stroke in Parents Who Lost a Child: A Nationwide Follow-Up Study in DenmarkNeuroepidemiology, 2003
- PARENTS' HEALTH, HEALTH CARE UTILIZATION, AND HEALTH BEHAVIORS FOLLOWING THE VIOLENT DEATHS OF THEIR 12- to 28-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN: A PROSPECTIVE LONGITUDINAL ANALYSISDeath Studies, 1999
- Health Status of Bereaved ParentsNursing Research, 1996
- Parental depression following the death of a childDeath Studies, 1991
- An Epidemiologic Study of Mortality among Bereaved ParentsThe New England Journal of Medicine, 1988
- A Comparison of Adult Bereavement in the Death of a Spouse, Child, and ParentOMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying, 1980