Three Perspectives on Mental Health Problems of Young Adults and Their Parents at a 15-Year Follow-Up of the Family Bereavement Program

• Published in: Journal of consulting and clinical psychology 2018-10, Vol.86 (10), p.845-855
• Main Authors: Sandler, Irwin, Gunn, Heather, Mazza, Gina, Tein, Jenn-Yun, Wolchik, Sharlene, Kim, Hanjoe, Ayers, Tim, Porter, Michele
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Alcoholism; Bereavement; Child; Emerging Adulthood; Externalization; Externalizing problems; Families & family life; Family; Family Intervention; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Grief; Health Care Utilization; Health problems; Health psychology; Human; Humans; Internalization; Internalizing disorders; Male; Mental Disorders; Mental Disorders - psychology; Mental Disorders - therapy; Mental health; Mental Health Services; Mental Health Services - statistics & numerical data; Middle Aged; Parental Death - psychology; Parents; Parents & parenting; Parents - psychology; Prescription drugs; Program Evaluation; Psychotherapy - methods; Psychotropic drugs; Respondents; Support groups; Young Adult; Young adults; Youth
• ISSN: 0022-006X; 1939-2117
• DOI: 10.1037/ccp0000327

Objective: Effects are reported of the Family Bereavement Program (FBP) on the mental health of bereaved youth and their surviving parent 15 years following the program. Method: On-hundred and 56 families (244 children ages 8-16; 54% male; 67% Non-Hispanic White) were randomly assigned to receive either the FBP (N = 90) or a literature control condition (N = 66). At the 15-year follow-up 80% of the youth and 76% of the bereaved parents were reinterviewed. Mental health problems and service use were self-reported by young adults and their parents. Key informants reported on mental health problems of young adults. Results: Young adults in the FBP reported significantly less use of mental health services and of psychiatric medication than controls. Key informants reported significantly lower mental health problems for young adults who were in FBP as compared with controls and for those who were younger lower internalizing and externalizing problems for those in the FBP as compared with controls. Bereaved parents reported a significantly lower rate of alcoholism and less use of support groups than controls. Conclusions: The results provided evidence that FBP led to lower mental health problems and less service use by bereaved young adults and their parents as compared with controls. What is the public health significance of this article? The public health significance of the study is supported by the findings of lower mental health problems by bereaved young adults, lower alcohol abuse by their parents, and less mental health service use by young adults and bereaved parents 15 years following program participation.