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Death of a child and parental wellbeing in old age: evidence from Taiwan.

ABSTRACT: The death of a child is one of the most traumatic events that a parent can experience. The psychological and physical consequences of bereavement are well established, and the consequences are more severe for mothers than fathers. However, little is known about how the death of an adult child affects parental wellbeing in old age or how the deceased child's sex may moderate the association. We use data from the Taiwanese Longitudinal Study of Aging (TLSA) to investigate how the death of a son or a daughter differentially affects the wellbeing of older parents, measured by depressive symptoms and self-rated health. We find that for mothers, a son's death is associated with an increase in depressive symptoms and a decline in self-rated health, but fathers' health is not adversely affected by a son's death. There is little evidence that a daughter's death has a negative effect on either maternal or paternal wellbeing. We situate these findings within their social and cultural contexts and discuss social policies that would reduce gender and health inequality.

SUBMITTER: Lee C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4042671 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Death of a child and parental wellbeing in old age: evidence from Taiwan.

Lee Chioun C Glei Dana A DA Weinstein Maxine M Goldman Noreen N

Social science & medicine (1982) 20130827

The death of a child is one of the most traumatic events that a parent can experience. The psychological and physical consequences of bereavement are well established, and the consequences are more severe for mothers than fathers. However, little is known about how the death of an adult child affects parental wellbeing in old age or how the deceased child's sex may moderate the association. We use data from the Taiwanese Longitudinal Study of Aging (TLSA) to investigate how the death of a son or ...[more]

PMID: 24054310

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Project description:BackgroundThe early identification of infants with a risk for neurodevelopmental disorders in the first few years of life is essential for better developmental outcomes. Screenings should be carried out by combining the family pediatricians' and parents' perspectives, the two fundamental sources of information on children's health. The present study has three aims: (a) to test the feasibility of parent-report instruments to detect warning signs in their children's development; (b) to ascertain whether there is an agreement between the family pediatricians' (FP) clinical judgments of warning signs and the parental perceptions; (c) to determine whether there is a link between parents' distress and child development.MethodsWithin the NASCITA birth cohort, in addition to the family pediatrician's clinical evaluation with routine tools, the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised (M-CHAT-R) was completed by parents to assess the child's language, social skills, behavior, and sensory areas. Parents were also asked to complete the Parenting Stress Index, Short Form (PSI-SF) to verify the magnitude of stress in the parent-child system. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the association between child and parental characteristics and the presence of warning signs.ResultsThe follow-up assessment was completed for 435 infants: 69 (15.8%) presented warning signs: 43 in the pediatrician's assessment and 36 in the M-CHAT-R (10 in both). A total of 16 children (14 with warning signs) received a diagnosis after a specialist evaluation. Being male (OR 2.46, 95%CI: 1.23-4.91) and having sleep disorders (OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.17-5.04) was associated with a greater likelihood of warning signs in the multivariate analysis, while reading aloud was a protective factor (not exposed versus exposed (OR = 3.14; 95% CI 1.60-6.17). For 73 children (18.4%), at least one parent tested positive for PSI-SF. An increased prevalence of parental distress was observed in children with warning signs (OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.27-4.37).ConclusionsIntegrating physician and parental perspectives during well-child visits and in clinical practice appears feasible and can improve the identification of children at risk of developmental disorders.

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Death of a child and parental wellbeing in old age: evidence from Taiwan.

Publications

Death of a child and parental wellbeing in old age: evidence from Taiwan.

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