Parenting through grief: A cross-sectional study of recently bereaved adults with minor children

Abstract

Background: Grieving adults raising parentally-bereaved minor children experience persistently elevated symptoms of depression and grief. However, the factors associated with their mental health outcomes are not well understood. Aim: To investigate the psychosocial and demographic characteristics associated with grief distress and depressive symptom severity in bereaved adults with minor children. Design: Cross-sectional, web-based survey. Setting/participants: Eight hundred forty-five bereaved adults raising minor (age <18 years) children who had experienced the death of a co-parent. Primary outcomes were grief distress (Prolonged Grief Disorder-13), depressive symptoms (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-Depression), and widowed parenting self-efficacy (WPSES). Results: Mean grief scores were 33.5; mean depression scores were 58.3. Among the 690 individuals more than 6 months bereaved, 132 (19.3%) met criteria for prolonged grief disorder. In adjusted models, participants reporting higher grief scores were more recently bereaved, identified as mothers, non-Caucasian, had lower education and income, and had not anticipated their co-parent’s death. The statistical modeling results for depression scores were similar to grief scores except that depression was not associated with anticipation of co-parent death. Parents reporting lower WPSES scores had higher grief and depression scores. Retrospective assessments of more intense parenting worries at the time of co-parent death were also associated with higher grief and depression scores. Conclusions: For bereaved adults with minor children, unanticipated co-parent death was linked with higher grief distress but not symptoms of depression. Addressing parenting concerns may represent a common pathway for improving the mental health of parentally-bereaved families.

Understanding Dying Concerns in Parents With Advanced Cancer With Dependent Children for Their Coparent

“…23 The sample included 845 bereaved adults with minor children, 312 of which experienced death related to cancer, supporting that 19.3% met the definition for prolonged grief disorder and 838 participants' depression scores corresponded to mild depression. 23 In addition, 73% of adults had increased worry about their parenting self-efficacy on a daily basis. 23 Ultimately, although the researchers gained an understanding of dying concerns, these concerns could not be analyzed on their own.…”

“…The main concerns reported by participants were that the coparent would suffer from depression after the PWAC died and it would detrimentally impact the family unit. A recent study by Park and colleagues supports this finding 23 . The sample included 845 bereaved adults with minor children, 312 of which experienced death related to cancer, supporting that 19.3% met the definition for prolonged grief disorder and 838 participants' depression scores corresponded to mild depression 23 .…”

“…A recent study by Park and colleagues supports this finding 23 . The sample included 845 bereaved adults with minor children, 312 of which experienced death related to cancer, supporting that 19.3% met the definition for prolonged grief disorder and 838 participants' depression scores corresponded to mild depression 23 . In addition, 73% of adults had increased worry about their parenting self-efficacy on a daily basis 23 …”

“…23 In addition, 73% of adults had increased worry about their parenting self-efficacy on a daily basis. 23 Ultimately, although the researchers gained an understanding of dying concerns, these concerns could not be analyzed on their own. Family cancer researchers agree that family type, structure, and hope will impact the desired outcomes of a research project.…”

‘I didn't know what was in front of me’—Bereaved parents' experience of adapting to life when a co‐parent of dependent children has died with cancer

“…Parental death in childhood predisposes children to increased levels of anxiety, depression, risk‐taking behaviours and offending, as well as lower academic attainment than the general population 13–15 . While parental support can help mediate such adversities, 16,17 it is not clear how bereaved parents are supporting the children when a parent has died with cancer, who are also at risk of adverse mental health outcomes 18,19 . Investigating how bereaved parents navigate bereavement when a co‐parent has died with cancer could aid our understanding if, how and when they can be supported as they care for their children.…”