Why losing a parent can be so difficult for children: Study highlights mental health risks

Children who lose a parent are twice as likely to develop a mental health disorder as those living with both parents, according to an Australian study published in the Australian Journal of Psychology.

Researchers analysed national survey data from 6,310 households with children aged four to 17. They found that 21.4 per cent of children who had experienced parental loss—through the death of a parent, separation or a parent being in custody—had a diagnosable mental health disorder, such as anxiety, depression or ADHD.

That compares with 10.8 per cent of children who had not experienced parental loss.

The death of a parent had the greatest impact. Nearly 29 per cent of children who had lost a parent had a mental health disorder, compared with 13.7 per cent of children who had not experienced parental death. The effect was even stronger among younger children aged four to 11, with 38.3 per cent of those who had lost a biological parent diagnosed with a mental health disorder.

Mental health disorders were also reported in 21.9 per cent of children who had a parent in custody and 20.2 per cent of those whose parents had separated.

According to the study author, “This study reinforces longstanding evidence that parental bereavement is one of the most distressing experiences in childhood and is linked to a higher risk of mental health challenges.”

By age 17, almost one in three children (31.8 per cent) had experienced parental separation, while 2.5 per cent had lost a biological parent through death. Overall, 37.8 per cent were no longer living with both biological parents.

The findings highlight how common parental loss is and the importance of providing affected children and families with appropriate support.