Morbidity, mortality, and parental grief: A review of the literature on the relationship between the death of a child and the subsequent health of parents

2009 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karrie Cummings Hendrickson

ABSTRACTObjective:This review was undertaken to analyze the research to date and identify areas for future research regarding the associations between parental grief after the death of a child and the subsequent health of the parents, including both their mortality and morbidity risks.Methods:Relevant literature was identified through a search of OVID-Medline, CINAHL, and PsycINFO using variations of the terms “parental grief and bereaved parents” combined with “health,” “illness,” “morbidity,” and “mortality.” Additionally, bibliographies of selected articles were reviewed to identify additional sources. The final sample includes 17 articles.Results:The literature search revealed a paucity of publications on the topic. However, it also showed that the studies that have been done examining the relationship between parental grief and health outcomes have produced conflicting results in almost every disease state examined. Additionally, several concerns with the quality of existing studies came to light that may bring their results into question. Three primary areas of concern surfaced including lack of consistency in measurement for psychological variables and “soft” self-report health outcomes, questionable methodologies in bereavement research in general, and the lack of a uniform definition of bereaved parents.Significance of results:Based on these findings, it is clear that more methodologically sound research is necessary to clarify the relationship between parental grief after the death of a child and the parents' subsequent morbidity and mortality risks.

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 408-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin-Bin Chen

AbstractThis study examined the mediation effect of creative self-concept on the relationship between Openness to Experience and creative behaviours among university students. Participants in the study completed self-report measures of Openness to Experience, creative behaviours and creative self-concept. Structural equation modelling revealed that, as predicted, Openness to Experience was indirectly related to creative behaviours through creative self-concept. Implications for future research and limitations of the present findings are discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-S16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elliott Christian ◽  
Martin Sellbom ◽  
Ross B. Wilkinson

In the current investigation, we examined the association between psychopathy and attachment styles in several specific attachment relationships (i.e., romantic, mother, father, friend). Data were collected online from a combination of Australian university and general community samples (N = 729, 53.50% female) using the Expanded Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy scale (Christian & Sellbom, 2016) and a modified version of the Experiences in Close Relationships Structures (Fraley, Heffernan, Vicary, & Brumbaugh, 2011). Our results revealed that specific attachment models tend to have small to moderate associations with the components of psychopathy, but that the strength and direction of these associations tends to differ between figures, components of psychopathy, and dimension of attachment considered. Interestingly, it appeared that peer relationships (i.e., romantic, friend) tended to account for the majority of the variance in the relationship between psychopathy and general attachment styles, which may be an important avenue for future research.


2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Nur Atikah Mohamed Hussin ◽  
Azlinda Azman

<p>The death of a child is difficult to the bereaved parents. Literature had associated the loss with marriage disruption. The issues on that the difficulties to communicate, gender-related coping mechanisms and sexual need were discussed as reasons for bereaved parents to have conflict in their relationship. However there is limited knowledge about this issue. A pilot study has been conducted among six bereaved parents. The bereaved parents were Malaysian Muslim bereaved parents. They were interviewed individually to explore the challenges or conflicts that they had experienced after the death of their child. This study revealed that there were situations which bereaved parents described as having difficulties in their relationship. However, this study also revealed that the mutual understanding and respect to each other are the most of important components for bereaved parents to maintain their relationship post-loss. This study suggested the importance of suggesting couple counselling to bereaved parents after the death of their child.</p>


2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 300-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica L. Douglas ◽  
Deirdre Williams ◽  
Shirley Reynolds

Background: Rumination predicts depression in adults and adolescents. The development of rumination has been linked to parenting practices, but only limited research has investigated this and research has tended to rely on self-report parenting measures. Aims: To investigate the relationship between female adolescent rumination and maternal modelling, criticism and positivity using an observational measure of parental behaviour. Method: A cross-sectional design was used. Daughters aged 16–18 years and their mothers (n = 154 dyads) completed questionnaire measures of rumination and affect. Mothers of girls with rumination scores in the upper and lower quartile (both n = 26) also completed the Five Minute Speech Sample, which was used to measure maternal criticism and positivity. Results: Mothers of low rumination girls made significantly more positive comments about their daughters than the mothers of high ruminators. Mothers made very few critical comments. Self-reported rumination was not correlated in mothers and daughters, suggesting a lack of support for the potential role of modelling. Conclusion: Overall, low maternal positivity was associated with rumination in female adolescents. There was no evidence that maternal rumination or criticism were associated with adolescent rumination. The results suggest a number of implications for future research, including the need for prospective longitudinal studies using observational parenting measures.


2021 ◽  
pp. 154041532110298
Author(s):  
Christopher Johansen ◽  
Kim D. Reynolds ◽  
Bin Xie ◽  
Paula Palmer

Background: Positive associations have been observed between acculturation and body mass index (BMI), but the mediators of this relationship are not well established. Acculturation researchers have called for investigating the influence of socio-contextual variables as mediators. The objective of this study was to test the mediating effects of salty snacks, sweet snacks, physical activity, and sedentary behavior on the relationship between acculturation and BMI among Latino adolescents. Methods: Adolescents who self-identified as Latino ( n = 431) at public high schools in Southern California were recruited and completed a self-report survey. A bootstrapped multiple mediation model was used to test mediation pathways. Results: Acculturation was positively associated with physical activity ( B = 0.09, p < .05). The indirect effects of salty snacks, sweet snacks, physical activity, and sedentary behavior were not associated with BMI, suggesting no mediation. Conclusions: Future research should examine additional mediating variables on the relationship between acculturation and BMI.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S877-S878
Author(s):  
Manuel Herrera Legon ◽  
Daniel Paulson

Abstract Objective: The vascular depression hypothesis posits that cerebrovascular burden confers risk for late-life depression. Though neuroanatomical correlates of vascular depression (prefrontal white matter hyperintensities) are well established, little is known about cognitive correlates; the identification of which may suggest therapeutic targets. Aims of this study are to examine the hypothesis that the relationship between cerebrovascular burden and depressive symptoms is moderated by brooding, a type of rumination. Method: A sample of 52 community-dwelling, stroke-free, individuals over the age of 70, without history of severe mental illness or dementia completed the Ruminative Responses Scale, and provided self-report (cardiac disease, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol) CVB data. The Geriatric Depression Scale was used to assess depressive symptomatology. Results: Results of a bootstrapped model were that self-reported measures of CVB predicted depressive symptomatology. This relationship was significantly moderated by brooding. Among older adults, those who self-reported high CVB and medium to elevated levels of rumination experienced disproportionately more depressive symptomatology. Conclusions: These findings suggest that brooding rumination may be one correlate of the vascular depression syndrome. Future research should examine neuroanatomical correlates of rumination among older adults, and further explore brooding as a therapeutic target for those with late-life depression.


2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 235-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Camisasca ◽  
Sarah Miragoli ◽  
Paola Di Blasio

The purpose of this study was to explore the mediating and moderating effects of parenting alliance on the relationship between marital adjustment, as represented by the dimensions dyadic consensus, dyadic satisfaction, dyadic cohesion, and affectional expression, and maternal and paternal stress. Self-report data were gathered from 236 Italian families (236 mothers:M= 40.9;SD= 4.4 and 236 fathers:M= 42.9;SD= 4.8) of children aged 6–11 years (M= 8.6;SD= 1.7). A set of regression analyses were conducted to examine whether parenting alliance mediates or moderates the relationship between marital adjustment and parenting stress. Regression analyses were consistent with a model of coparenting as a mediator but not as a moderator of the relationship between marital adjustment and parenting stress. In the case of mothers, parenting alliance mediates the relationships between two dimensions of marital adjustment (dyadic consensus and dyadic cohesion) on parenting stress; in the case of fathers, parenting alliance serves as a mediator of the relationship between the marital adjustment (in terms of dyadic satisfaction) and parenting stress. Implications for future research and interventions are discussed.


PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e7390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Birfer ◽  
Michael WL Sonne ◽  
Michael WR Holmes

Background Fatigue in baseball pitchers is a process linked to lowered physical and mental performance, injury, and changes in kinematics. Numerous studies have associated fatigue with overuse, high ball velocities, lack of rest time, poor mechanics, and degree of self-satisfaction. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature to identify a theoretical framework for the relationship between outcomes and the manifestation of fatigue on baseball pitching. The synthesized data may identify areas requiring further research. Methodology This protocol was registered with PROSPERO (ID: CRD42018114194). SPORTDiscus, Medline, PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Google Scholar were searched, using keywords such as fatigue in pitchers and changes in kinematics (e.g., pitching mechanics, valgus elbow torque), performance (e.g., pitch count, pitch type), and injury (e.g., pain, elbow, and shoulder soreness). Three reviewers independently screened the articles, selected relevant literature based on abstract eligibility, and assessed the methods described therein for final inclusion. Results A total of 31,860 articles were screened for eligibility and 25 articles were included for the review. The selected articles included epidemiological, longitudinal, experimental, conference papers, and crossover laboratory studies. Evidence extracted from the 25 studies demonstrates a relationship between fatigue in baseball pitching, and three overarching outcomes: changes in kinematics, a decrease in performance, and an increase in injury risk. Conclusions Findings show that a co-dependence between changes in kinematics and a decrease in performance, which stems from central and peripheral fatigue, is a contributing factor of injury in baseball pitchers. A large percentage of baseball pitchers exhibit pain or soreness in either their elbow or shoulder, or both at some point in a season. Initially, kinematic changes occur that could maintain performance, but may increase joint and tissue loading. Performance decreased with elevated pitch counts and innings thrown, and pitching further into games or the season. Evidence was found to be consistent across all studies; however, more work is needed in the area of fatigue as an injury mechanism during pitching. With a proof of concept established, the prevention of negative outcomes associated with fatigue must be the focus of future research and performance should not be the only criteria.


2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (8) ◽  
pp. 970-984 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graeme Coetzer ◽  
Godfrey Gibbison

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between adult attention deficit (AAD) and the operational effectiveness of project managers (OEPM) as mediated by time management (TM). Design/methodology/approach In total, 104 actively employed business graduate students each had the opportunity to be a project manager within a project team. Each team member rated the others on their operational effectiveness, completed a self-report measure of TM and identified a close associate who completed an observer version of the Brown Adult Attention Deficit Scale. The Sobel and Hayes tests were used to test the hypothesis that TM mediates the relationship between AAD and OEPM. Findings AAD is negatively associated with TM and OEPM, and TM is positively associated with OEPM. TM partially mediates the relationship between AAD and OPME. Research limitations/implications Future research requires a sample of project managers drawn directly from the workplace, and needs to examine the association of AAD with a wider set of project conditions and associated competencies to identify potential benefits and challenges. An updated and validated measure of both TM and the OEPM is required in future research. Practical implications Individuals and organizations wanting to ensure timely and successful completion of key tasks and projects need to be aware of the potentially constraining influence of AAD on TM and OPME. Relatively more intensive time and project management training is suggested for disordered project managers and team members. The use of organizational coaches and peer coaching within project teams represents a potential opportunity for distributing the potential benefits of the disorder while managing the challenges. Employee assistance programs that raise awareness and provide access to assessment are an important part of multi-modal management of the disorder in the workplace. Social implications Employers are facing increasing social, legal and economic pressures to support functional but disordered employees, be more inclusive and take appropriate advantage of employee diversity. This research provides constructive suggestions for how to support disordered employees with project management responsibilities. Originality/value This research study is the first examination of the relationships between AAD, TM and OEPM, and is of value to researchers, organizational development specialists, human resource management specialists, managers and employees who are seeking effective multi-modal management of the disorder in the workplace.


2017 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daisuke Kawashima ◽  
Kenji Kawano

Several reports have indicated that grief and mental health outcomes of people bereaved by suicide vary by their relationship to the deceased. Parents who have lost offspring experience higher levels of distress than those with other relationships to the deceased. However, there are limited studies investigating the experience of parental bereavement by suicide, and further research is needed. The present study aimed to clarify the differences in grief reactions between bereaved parents and those with other relationships to the deceased in Japan and explore a statistical model of adaptation to the loss. In total, 105 bereaved participants completed a questionnaire covering grief reaction, meaning reconstruction, mental health, social context, and demographic variables. Parents scored higher on several grief reaction items and lower in sense-making than those with other relationships. In addition, path analysis showed that sense-making acted as a moderator in the experience of loss of offspring and grief reaction.


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