The effects of parental loss in childhood on mental health in adults

Abstract

Background

Previous research has focused on the mental health of children and adolescents who experienced parental loss. Studies so far have been investigating the short-term effects of loss rather than the long-term effects. Parental death in childhood has little identified yet as a risk factor for mental health problems in adulthood.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of parental loss in childhood as a risk factor for mental health problems, such as depression symptoms and suicidal ideation, in adults in the Republic of Korea.

Methods

This study used the Korean Welfare Panel Study (KOWEPS) data from 2006 to 2013 with follow-up examinations each year. Information on childhood (0-17 years of age) parental loss was collected retrospectively in 2006. Prevalence of depression symptoms was measured by the Korean version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) each year. A cut-off of 16 points or more was used to define depression symptoms. After excluding missing values, the study subjects for depression symptom analyses included 13,671 (84,012 observations). In the suicidal ideation analyses, (9,285 subjects (26,986 observations) from 2011 to 2013 were included. A Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) analysis was conducted to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) of depression symptoms and suicidal ideation respectively in relation to parental loss in childhood.

Results

Among the study population (n=13,671), 26.2% (n=3,577) were suffering from depression symptoms, and 18.7% (n=2,566) had experienced parental loss in childhood. Parental loss was associated with depression symptoms (OR = 1.185; 95% CI: 1.114-1.260). After stratification by gender, the risk of depression symptoms was significant for both men and women who had experienced parental loss (OR = 1.189; 95% CI: 1.076-1.314 in men; OR = 1.174; 95% CI: 1.086-1.268 in women). ORs by age group indicated that middle-aged (OR = 1.229; 95% CI: 1.115-1.354) and elderly (OR = 1.184; 95% CI: 1.089-1.287) participants were significantly more likely to exhibit depression symptoms. Among the total population of 9,285, the number of people who experienced suicidal ideation was 12.8% (n=1,192). The number of people who experienced parental loss was 19.5% (n=1,814). Parental loss was associated with suicidal ideation (OR = 1.189; 95% CI: 1.041-1.358). After stratifying by gender, the risk of suicidal ideation was not significant for men or women who had experienced parental loss (OR = 1.194; 95% CI: 0.955-1.494 in men; OR = 1.163; 95% CI: 0.985-1.373 in women). ORs by age group indicated that middle-aged participants were at a significantly higher risk of suicidal ideation (OR = 1.260; 95% CI: 1.031-1.540). However, young adults and the elderly were not.

Conclusions

Parental death in childhood was positively associated with the risk of adulthood depression symptoms and suicidal ideation respectively. The risk of depression symptoms was statistically significant for both men and women. The risk was significantly higher in middle-aged and elderly people. The risk of suicidal ideation was significant for middle-aged people. Therefore, this study identified that parental death in childhood negatively affected mental health in adults. In this regard, the results of this study will help policy development of family support programs for bereaved families.