Vroeg ouderverlies: De psychologische en fysieke lange termijn effecten en de invloed op hechting in de volwassenheid.
Summary
This study originally focuses on the long term psychological and physical consequences of the loss of a parent during adolescence (between the ages of 10-20). Also, the long term consequences of early parental loss on the attachment during adulthood were examined. The effects of loss, as assessed by the VROPSOM, ECR-R and other measures, were considered in relation to a number of independent factors. With respect to sex, we examined the impact of the loss of a mother versus the loss of a father, and a possible interaction-effect between the sex of the child and the sex of the deceased parent. A total of 179 people participated in the study, of which 77 experienced early parental loss. The other 102 people grew up in intact families (control group). The results of this study indicate that when compared to the control group, people with early parental loss report more depressive and physical complaints and judge their own health worse. However there was no significant difference in the degree of anxiety between the loss group and the control group. In addition there was no significant difference in attachment during adulthood between the two groups. Finally, no sex differences were found.