Impact of Losing a Parent During War on Young Adults' Mental Health
Author Information
Author(s): Morina Nexhmedin, von Lersner Ulrike, Prigerson Holly G.
Primary Institution: Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam
Hypothesis
War-related bereavement constitutes a significant risk factor for distress and dysfunction above and beyond other war-related traumatic experiences.
Conclusion
Losing a father during childhood or adolescence due to war significantly increases the risk of mental health issues in young adulthood.
Supporting Evidence
- Bereaved participants were significantly more likely to suffer from Major Depressive Episode or any anxiety disorder than non-bereaved participants.
- 39.7% of bereaved participants met criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
- 34.6% of bereaved participants met criteria for Prolonged Grief Disorder.
Takeaway
If a child loses their dad because of war, they might feel really sad and have a hard time when they grow up.
Methodology
179 bereaved and 175 non-bereaved young adults were interviewed about their mental health a decade after the Kosovo war.
Potential Biases
Recruitment methods differed for bereaved and non-bereaved participants, which could affect the comparison of mental health rates.
Limitations
The study was conducted in only four municipalities, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
Participants were Kosovar Albanians aged 20.3 years on average, with a higher prevalence of unemployment and lower education among bereaved individuals.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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