EFFECTS OF A PARENTS DEATH ON ADULT CHILDREN - RELATIONSHIP SALIENCE AND REACTION TO LOSS

In this study we assess the impact of a parent's death on adult childr en's physical and psychological functioning. Individuals from 24 to 96 years old were interviewed in 1986 (N = 3,617) and again in 1989 (N = 2,867). In the intervening three years, 207 respondents experienced t he death of a biological parent. Our results indicate that when compar ed to adult children who are not bereaved, bereaved adult children exp erience a significant increase in psychological distress and alcohol c onsumption and a decline in physical health status. We also developed a theoretical framework to guide an analysis Of group differences in a dult children's reactions to a parent's death. Our analysis shows that some groups experience a substantially greater decline in functioning than others following a parent's death, whereas other groups actually experience improved functioning following a parent's death. Depending on the type of outcome assessed, several factors are associated with children's reactions to a parent's death: age and marital status of th e child, gender of the child and the deceased parent, the quality of p revious adult interactions with the deceased parent, and childhood mem ories of the deceased parent.