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Anxiety in acutely bereaved prepubertal children
L Sanchez1, M Fristad, R A Weller
1New York University Medical Center, New York.
Summary
Children experiencing parental death showed significant anxiety about other family members dying. However, their overall anxiety symptoms were comparable to normal children, not depressed children.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Bereavement Studies
Background:
- Parental death is a significant stressor for children.
- Understanding anxiety responses in bereaved children is crucial for mental health support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate anxiety symptoms in prepubertal children immediately and 8 weeks after parental death.
- To compare anxiety levels in bereaved children with depressed and normal children.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Grief Interview and Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DICA-C/P).
- Assessed 38 bereaved children, 38 depressed children, and 19 normal children.
- Administered standard diagnostic interviews to children and parents.
Main Results:
- No bereaved children met criteria for a DSM-III-R anxiety disorder.
- 55-63% of bereaved children reported anxiety about other family members dying.
- Bereaved children had fewer anxiety symptoms than depressed children (p < 0.0001).
- Higher anxiety in bereaved children correlated with depressive disorders (p < 0.002).
Conclusions:
- Prepubertal children bereaved by parental death do not exhibit elevated anxiety disorders compared to normative samples.
- Specific anxieties regarding other family members are common post-bereavement.
- Comorbid depressive disorders may be associated with higher anxiety symptom levels in bereaved children.