Mental health among parentally and sibling bereaved children : the association with parental and friend support
Studies have suggested that parental or sibling loss in childhood can contribute to psychopathological problems and general distress, where children’s family environmental conditions after bereavement are the most effective moderators. The aims of the study were to assess the association of childhood bereavement with mental health (e.g., anxiety, depression and anger levels) after accounting for gender difference in mental health as well as mental health by different levels of social support. Furthermore, the aims were to examine if parental and/or friend support could moderate the effects of bereavement on mental health. Data in the study were obtained from the Youth in Iceland survey which was conducted by the Icelandic Centre for Social Research and Analysis (ICSRA) in February 2016. The sample included 4776 8th-10th grade elementary school students, of which 2393 were boys and 2335 were girls. The results demonstrated that girls had worse mental health than boys. In addition, parental and friend support had positive impact on participant’s mental health. Bereavement had negative impact on children’s mental health. Friend support moderated the relationship between bereavement and children’s anxiety and depression levels.
Sálfræði, Ástvinamissir, Geðheilsa, Börn, Psychology, Bereavement, Mental health, Children
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