Parental death in childhood: perceived vulnerability, and adult depression and anxiety.
College students who had experienced the death of a parent during their childhoods perceived themselves as more vulnerable to future losses than did a nonbereaved control group. Perceived vulnerability to loss was identified as a better predictor of adult anxiety and depression than was the early loss itself. Perceived vulnerability to loss is thus implicated in the development of adult psychopathology associated with early loss.
Mireault
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GC
Department of Behavioral Sciences, Johnson State College, Vt.
Bond
L A
LA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D001601:Bereavement; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008426:Maternal Deprivation; D010333:Paternal Deprivation; D010553:Personality Development; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support