Time does not heal all wounds: Mortality following the death of a parent

Rostila, Mikael; Saarela, Jan M.

doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2010.00801.x

Cited by 125Grief, Bereavement, and Mental HealthFamily Dynamics and RelationshipsFamily Support in Illness

Time does not heal all wounds: Mortality following the death of a parent

Rostila, Mikael, Saarela, Jan M.·2011·Journal of Marriage and Family

DOI 10.1111/j.1741-3737.2010.00801.x

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Abstract

People linked through social ties are known to have interdependent health. Our aim was to investigate such collateral health effects in the context of offspring mortality after a parent's death in children aged 10–59 years. The data (N = 3,753,368) were from a linked-registers database that contains the total Swedish population. In minor children, we found elevations in mortality risks associated with a parent's death. Adult offspring experienced a reduced mortality risk recently after a parent's death, which over time approached, and in some instances even exceeded, that of the general population. Mother's death tended to have a stronger influence than father's death, unnatural parental deaths had a stronger effect than natural ones, and male offspring were more vulnerable than female offspring.

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The loss of a first-degree family member significantly increases the risk of mortality, disease, and suicide for the mourner.
“The loss of a first-degree family member significantly increases the risk of mortality, disease, and suicide for the mourner (2–6).”
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From DEPARTEMENT OF ONCOLOGY AND PATHOLOGY, CLINICAL CANCER EPIDEMIOLOGY Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden TEENAGERS LOSING A PARENT TO CANCER: EXPERIENCES, MODIFIABLE RISK-FACTORS AND LONG-TERM OUTCOME
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The long-term consequences of parental death in childhood on mortality and the role of socioeconomic status: evidence from Sweden at the turn of the 20th century
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Authors: Rostila, M., & Saarela, J. M.
Affiliations: Centre for Health Equity Studies (SE)
Åbo Akademi University (FI)
Corresponding author: Rostila, Mikael
ORCID: Rostila, Mikael
Saarela, Jan M.
Venue: Journal of Marriage and Family
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2011-01-10
Volume: 73
Issue: 1
Pages: 236-249
ISSN: 0022-2445 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1111/j.1741-3737.2010.00801.x
OpenAlex: W2053685455
Cited by: 125
References: 60
Citations by year: 2026: 4 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 2
FWCI: 8.28
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: doi.wiley.com/10.1002/tdm_license_1.1 (tdm, 1695 d)
Locations: Journal of Marriage and the Family (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Family Support in Illness
Keywords: parental death, offspring mortality, intergenerational health, social ties, mother's death, father's death, unnatural death, sex differences, children

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Time does not heal all wounds: Mortality following the death of a parent

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