National survey reveals elevated mental disorder rates among youth experiencing parental loss, indicating parental bereavement poses the highest risk.
Key Points
To determine the prevalence of biological parental loss (death, incarceration, and separation) and its impact on mental health disorders among children and adolescents under 18 years.
Analyzed data from a nationally representative survey in Australia (2013–2014) of households with children aged 4–17 years (N=6,310 parents/carers, 55% response rate).
Administered questionnaires to primary carers assessing occurrences of biological parental death, incarceration, and separation alongside diagnosed mental health disorders.
By age 17, 37.8% of youth lived without both biological parents, including 31.8% with separated parents, 2.5% who experienced parental death, and 0.3% with a parent in custody.
Overall mental disorder prevalence was 21.4% among youth who experienced parental loss, peaking at 28.8% for parental death, 21.9% for parental incarceration, and 20.2% for parental separation.
Mental disorder prevalence was highest at 38.3% among children aged 4–11 years who experienced the death of a biological parent.