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Death of Parents and Adult Psychological and Physical Well-Being

A Prospective U.S. National Study

University of Wisconsin-Madison, marks{at}ssc.wisc.edu

Heyjung Jun

Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea

Jieun Song

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Guided by a life course perspective, attachment theory, and gender theory, this study aims to examine the impact of death of a father, a mother, or both parents, as well as continuously living with one or both parents dead (in contrast to having two parents alive) on multiple dimensions of psychological well-being (depressive symptoms, happiness, self-esteem, mastery, and psychological wellness), alcohol abuse (binge drinking), and physical health (self-assessed health). Analyses of longitudinal data from 8,865 adults in the National Survey of Families and Households 1987-1993 reveal that a father's death leads to more negative effects for sons than daughters and a mother's death leads to more negative effects for daughters than sons. Problematic effects of parent loss are reflected more in men's physical health reports than women's. This study's results suggest that family researchers and practitioners working with aging families should not underestimate the impact of filial bereavement on adult well-being.

Key Words: bereavement • parent death • psychological well-being • depression • health

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This version was published on December 1, 2007

Journal of Family Issues, Vol. 28, No. 12, 1611-1638 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0192513X07302728


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Marks, N. F. Articles by Song, J. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?