Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2026

Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
Published on: September 19, 2019
Health risk behaviors in parentally bereaved youth
Melissa Muñiz-Cohen1, Nadine M Melhem, David A Brent
1Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 3811 O'Hara St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Objective:
To investigate whether parentally bereaved offspring are more likely to engage in health risk behaviors than nonbereaved control offspring.
Design:
Controlled population-based study.
Setting:
Bereaved families were recruited from coroner records and by advertisement. Control families were recruited using random-digit dialing and by advertisement.
Participants:
At 9.0 months after the death, 186 offspring aged 7 to 25 years of parents who died of suicide, accident, or sudden natural death were compared with 167 nonbereaved control offspring.
Main Outcome Measures:
The association of bereavement with health risk behaviors was examined. The prevalences of health risk behaviors on the Youth Risk Behavior Questionnaire were compared between bereaved and nonbereaved offspring. Risk behaviors surveyed were related to unintentional injury, violence, sexual behavior, cigarette smoking, and alcohol or other drug use.
Results:
No statistically significant difference was noted in the examined health risk behaviors between bereaved and nonbereaved offspring.
Conclusions:
Bereaved offspring did not engage in more health risk behaviors compared with nonbereaved offspring. Primary care physicians counseling youth should inquire about health risk behaviors in general.
Related Concept Videos
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV
Factors Affecting Illness
For instance, risk factors are connected to illness, disability,...
Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth. This guiding role...
Bonanno's Theory of Grieving
Resilience
The resilience...
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Bullying
