Long-term Psychological Consequences of Parental Bereavement Prior to Mid-life: Volunteering Helps
Year: 2022
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: Losing a child prior to midlife may be a uniquely traumatic event that continues to compromise parents’ well-being in later life. This study compared psychological well-being between bereaved and non-bereaved parents, and examined whether volunteering protects bereaved parents. We analyzed a pooled sample of parents aged 50+ (N = 12,023) from the Health and Retirement Study, including parents who lost a child prior to 50 and those who never lost a child. Bereaved parents reported more depressive symptoms and lower life satisfaction than non-bereaved parents, which was more evident among parents with fewer children alive. Among bereaved parents, volunteering, particularly volunteering 100+ hours/year, was associated with better well-being at baseline; yet, volunteering 1–99 hours/year led to a larger increase in life satisfaction over time. This study adds to our understanding of lasting effects of parental bereavement and suggests volunteering as a potential intervention aimed at helping bereaved older parents.
Source: Innovation in Aging
Authors: Meng Huo, Kyungmin Kim
Institutions: University of California, Davis, Seoul National University
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,615
OpenAlex ID: W4312105273