August 22, 2026
Children have twice the risk of mental health disorders after losing a parent
Children who experience parental loss are twice as likely to have a mental health disorder, highlighting the need for early support
BySanjana Gajbhiye
Editor
Children depend on parents and caregivers for security, routines, and guidance
When a parent dies, goes into custody, or separates from the other parent, the change can affect far more than a child’s living arrangements
A recent study found that children who experienced parental loss were about twice as likely to have a mental health disorder
The rate was 21.4 percent, compared with 10.8 percent among children who had not experienced parental loss
The finding shows a strong association but does not prove that parental loss directly caused these conditions
Parental loss comes in different forms
The authors used “parental loss” to mean the death of a biological parent, parents separating, or having a parent in custody
Each situation is different, but all can bring major changes to a child’s relationships, home life, and sense of security
Lead author Professor Lauren Breen works at Curtin University
“Parental loss is more common than many people realize and it has a clear and measurable impact on children’s mental health,” she said
National survey measured losses
The team analyzed data from a national Australian survey of 6,310 families with children ages four to 17. A caregiver answered questions about one child’s family life and mental health
The assessment examined whether the children had any of seven mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, and serious behavior problems
The researchers weighted the data to better represent Australian children. About 55 percent of invited families took part, and some children had experienced more than one type of parental loss
Separation was most common
The team estimated that by age 17, 31.8 percent of children had experienced parental separation
Another 2.5 percent had experienced the death of a biological parent, while 0.3 percent had a parent in custody
Overall, 37.8 percent of children were not living with both biological parents by age 17
This broader group included other situations, such as a parent living elsewhere or being temporarily absent
Parental loss was linked to more disorders
Among children who had experienced any form of parental loss, 21.4 percent had at least one of the assessed mental disorders
Anxiety, depression, attention and impulse-control problems, and serious behavior problems were all more common in this group than among children who had not experienced parental loss
The association remained after the researchers accounted for household income, economic conditions, and whether families lived in urban, regional, or remote areas
However, those adjustments could not rule out every other possible influence or establish cause and effect
The highest rate appeared among children whose biological parent had died. In this group, 28.8 percent had a mental disorder, compared with 13.7 percent of children who had not experienced the death of a parent
Parent death showed highest rates
“Children who had a parent die had the highest rates of mental disorders compared to any other group, at 28.8 per cent,” Breen said
Among children whose parents had separated, 20.2 percent had a mental disorder, compared with 11.9 percent of children whose parents had not separated
Among children with a parent in custody, 21.9 percent had a mental disorder, compared with 13.9 percent of children who did not have a parent in custody
However, the custody group included only 13 children, making the difference too uncertain to support a clear conclusion
Younger children showed highest rate
The highest rate in any subgroup was 38.3 percent among children ages four to 11 whose biological parent had died
Because this subgroup was small, the estimate had a wide range of uncertainty and should not be treated as an exact rate that applies everywhere
“For younger children in particular, the effects can be especially severe,” Breen said. “This study reinforces longstanding evidence that parental bereavement is one of the most distressing experiences in childhood and is linked to a higher risk of mental health challenges.”
Many children recover well
The results describe an increased risk across a population, not the future of any individual child
Shelley Skinner is the CEO and founder of Lionheart Camp for Kids, a nonprofit organization that supports grieving families
“When the complexities and tragedies of the outside world crash into your inner world, children are vulnerable to feelings of anxiety, risk taking behavior and mental and physical illness,” Skinner said
“Many kids who experience the death of a family member will grow up to be happy and healthy and have normal and productive lives.”
“At the same time, each member of the family needs tailored help as they support a child through bereavement.”
Children need better access to support
The paper points to grief-focused therapy and family programs that can reduce symptoms in some bereaved children
However, families may face long waits, high fees, limited grief expertise among service providers, or uncertainty about where to turn
“Grieving children and their families often face barriers like long waitlists, high costs and not knowing where to go for help,” Breen said
“Our findings highlight the need for better identification and support of children experiencing parental loss, including ensuring accessible and evidence-informed mental health services and improving how systems respond to grief.”
Recognizing these children early and connecting them with appropriate care could help. That support may include therapy, family programs, and clearer pathways to suitable services
Parental loss does not define outcomes
The survey focused on biological parents, so it may have overlooked stepparents or other important parental figures
Caregivers also supplied the mental health information, meaning the analysis did not rely primarily on children’s own accounts
The survey captured a single period and did not follow each child before and after a loss. It also lacked details about every circumstance that can shape grief and adjustment, limiting conclusions about why the differences appeared
Weighting helped the sample better reflect the Australian population, but it could not make participating and nonparticipating families identical
These results estimate broad patterns, not the future of any particular child. Parental loss does not make a mental disorder inevitable
However, the findings show that parental loss is common and associated with mental health conditions, highlighting the importance of identifying children who may need early support
The study is published in the Australian Journal of Psychology
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