Gender Differences in Depressive Symptoms Following Child Death in Later Life.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

This study examined short- and long-term psychological adjustment to parental bereavement in later life for mothers and fathers.

Methods

Using 9 waves of data from the United States (1998-2014 Health and Retirement Study), I estimated trajectories of mothers' and fathers' depressive symptoms surrounding child death in later life, highlighting gender differences in adjustment. Moderation analyses were performed to uncover heterogeneous trajectories across parental characteristics.

Results

Mothers were more likely to experience child death and reported higher depressive symptoms prior to parental bereavement than fathers. Mothers and fathers who lost a child reported an increase in depressive symptoms that diminished over time. The short-term elevation in dep

SUBMITTER: Mellencamp KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10461527 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature