Year: 2000 Source: Psycho-Oncology, v.9, no.1, (January-February 2000), p.1-10 SIEC No: 20010536

Depressive symptoms, social competence, & behaviour problems of prepubescent children bereaved within 18 months of parental death from cancer or suicide were compared. Most children reported normative levels of depressive symptoms. Children whose parents died from suicide, compared with those whose parents died from cancer, reported significantly more depressive symptoms, involving negative mood, interpersonal problems, ineffectiveness, & anhedonia. Parental reports of children’s competence & behaviour were similar to a normative sample of children & did not differ between the children bereaved by parental cancer or suicide. Additional research should focus on other factors, such as family psychopathology, stresses, & impact of stigma, which may influence the course of bereaved children. (35 refs.)